THERE’S talk about town of re-naming the Townsville Cup the Manzelmann Cup after John Manzel took home the $100,000 RSL Townsville Cup for the third time and the second in succession.
The John Manzelmann trained Payteevee showed daylight between it and the rest of the field with a 31/4 length win from Oforawsome 2nd and Weathervane 3rd. John said it was one of the proudest moments of his life to be able to share the win with his part-owner father John snr (Ginger).
The Prestigious Townsville XXX Gold Cleveland Bay Handicap surprised and probably delighted bookmakers when outsider Living on a Prayer pipped favourite Le Cat on the line for a photo-finish win.
Trained by the legendary Terry Butts and piloted home in an excellent ride by North Coast jockey Kelvin Wharton, Living on a Prayer lunged at the line to win by a half head from the Jay Morris (Mt Isa) trained Le Cat with Motorised trained by Fred Smith (Rockhampton).
Click on the photo below for the full gallery from the day.
Fashions on the Field were once again sponsored by Cheryl’s Boutique, Mundingburra. Proprietor Cheryl Collins said the standard of dress has improved every year and this year contestants would be very competitive at any of the major metropolitan meetings in the country.
Judges had a difficult time but in the end it was Brittney McGlone who took out the Lady of the Day award; Kate Laffey and Nigel Hartly, Best Dressed Couple; Danielle Cooper, Millinery Award; Tracey Mayher, Filly of the Field and Tyler Giudes, Best Dressed Gent.
With a crowd estimated to be around 10,000, racegoers enjoyed one of the finest days of racing presented in North Queensland this year and, with greater than expected nominations, augers well for Townsville thoroughbred racing.
