The 2023 Hanging Rock Cup race meeting on Australia Day was a triumph for long time Swan Hill trainer Austy Coffey and his son Harry who rode a treble, including Cup winner Bannerton.
They are strong supporters of racing at Hanging Rock, and Austy said there is nothing better than to have Harry aboard his horses.
A very talented 27-year-old horseman, Harry’s long battle against cystic fibrosis to become a sought after rider at the top level is well known in the racing industry.
He often rides for the top stables at metropolitan meetings, but is thrilled hen he is able to ride his father gallopers at provincial meetings.
Kyneton & Hanging Rock Racing Club was pleased to see mild conditions prevail on Australia Day, rather than the scorching temperatures which arrived for the club’s New Year’s Day races.
Austy Coffey is always keen to add to his list of Cup winners, with five-year-old Bannerton taking out the 2022 Manangatang Cup in October, and running their third in the Nhill Cup on Boxing Day before coming to run in the bet365 Hanging Rock Cup over 1800 metres.
A field of nine lined up, and Bannerton continuing to firm throughout betting to end up as the $2.35 favourite.
Topweight Reserve Street led for much of the journey, with Bannerton well positioned by Coffey after jumping from barrier 1.
In the straight Reserve Street wilted, and Bannerton finished strongly to win by 1.25 metres from California Longbow, with Pure Deal finishing third, just in front of the topweight.
At the trophy presentations, racing club vice-president Gary O’Meara thanked racegoers for attending, with a special thank-you to Austy Coffey and Bannerton’s owners Tony Natale and Charlie Camara for supporting the meeting.
The owners have about six horses trained by Austy Coffey, and are also involved with harness racing.
Natale said it was great to win the Hanging Rock Cup, and urged everyone to support the sponsors and the club.
Austy Coffey made it a training double when Harry led all the way on Nerrivik in the final event, the Evolve Interiors BM58 handicap.
This was Harry’s third winner, as he won the opening race on Stawell-trained Dissmagic, and later took out the Cup.
The Jack Styring OAM BM58 Handicap, named after the legendary country race-caller and race club life member, was won by Frostivk, trained at Cranbourne by Mick Bell and ridden by Amy Hermann.
Committeeman Brian Johnson paid tribute to the late Jack Styring, and presented part-owner Peter Bow with the trophy.
“I thought he would win today given he is a run on sprinter who needs a fast pace,” Bow said.
The Danielle Chapman Kyneton-trained galloper Snappy Magnus started as favourite and ran a brave second and fought on strongly in the fast run 1000m event.
The easiest win of the day was by outsider Stardust in the Lonogan Milham BM52 Handicap over 1800m.
Ridden by Will Gordon and trained by former champion jumps jockey Kelvin Bourke led throughout, a form reversal after finishing last at Kilmore on January 14.
Hanging Rock Cup winner Bannerton , with a pleased Harry Coffey aboard, returns to scale.
