The weather wasn’t the only thing on show at Balaklava Racing Club on Wednesday, with the on track action proving to be just as hot.
Experienced jockey Barend Vorster come away with a double on the day, riding home Ultimate Addiction in Race 3, before taking out the feature race, the TQCSI Balaklava Cup on Winning Partner for McEvoyMitchell Racing.
It was back-to-back Cup wins for the Winning Partner/Vorster combination, and the first time a horse has won the Cup twice.
“This race means a lot to the stable,” Vorster said of the McEvoyMitchell team, who have now won the last three Balaklava Cups (Brown Ben in 2019).
"You get these horses in a yard that you really click with and he always does his best.
"He indicated to me through the 800 (metres) that he just wanted to stride and the minute I let him loose he really quickened away. It was a really strong performance."
Balaklava Racing Club CEO, Doug Hall said the Cup Day was a great success, with attendance at capacity.
“Feedback from trainers and stewards was the track raced very true on the day, he said.
“The ideal conditions meant that vendors trackside were kept busy all day.
“The committee and staff worked extremely hard to give the day the best opportunity to be successful and a truly fun day it was. Racing was a winner on Balaklava Cup Day.”
Apprentice Ben Price got proceedings underway riding The Map home for trainers Dan Clarken & Oopy MacGillivray in a close finish, just edging out the Jordan Frew-trained Abit Rattley.
Senior jockey Paul Gatt had a strong start to the race meeting with a double in the first four races, bringing in Conquest of Tears (Race 2) and El Magnificence (Race 4).
The main event was the racing, but Balaklava also held their annual Fashions At The Races in the betting ring, with a lot of colour and impressive headwear on show.
Channel 7 reporter, Elspeth Hussey hosted the day and was complimentary of the event.
“It was such a pleasure to host this year’s Catherine House Fashions on the Field at the Balaklava Cup” she said.
“We had so many female entrants, they were pouring off the stage! It was great to see how many of them had made their own head pieces. The gents certainly stepped it up a notch this year too.
“I don’t think it’s lost on South Australians just how lucky we are to be enjoying events like this in our community. It was a brilliant day and best of all, the weather gods were shining down on us too.”
From a strong entrance list, the winners were:
Best dressed female: Shannon Graham
Runner Up female: Fenella Barker
Best dressed male: Daniel Horrell
Runner Up male: Danny Chaplin
Regional Female: Norelle Shearer
Regional male: Ryan Konzag
Millinery: Jaimee Bruggemann
People's Choice: Jairus Wyten
