CASTERTON Cup day returned on Sunday to entertain an uncapped crowd for the first time since 2019, with bigger stakes and a TV feature broadcasting to all of Australia.

Intermittent showers could not dampen the spirits of the 2000 attendees as Brawl took out the Casterton Cup and Elvison claimed the Two Rivers Steeplechase title in spectacular style.

A commentary team from free-to-air channel Racing.com, including former local, Matt Stewart, was on location, featuring Casterton’s nine races as the main event for the day in a major first for the cup.

Casterton Racing Club manager, Mark Davis said it was a privilege for the club to host the broadcaster on Cup day.

“I watched the replays (on Racing.com) last night – it was brilliant coverage,” he said.

“The main idea of them being here (was) to promote the jumps racing, the live hedges – also the Casterton Foodworks Cup.”

Attendees came from across Victoria and South Australia, with busloads being brought in across the day.

Mr Davis was pleased to welcome the crowd to the Casterton Racecourse, which had been subject to upgrades leading up to cup day, including improved racetrack conditions.

“The main upgrade we’ve had this year is the new mounting yard, which was magnificent,” he said.

“We got a lot of good comments from the trainers, the jockeys and the general public.”

Fashionable field

FASHIONS on the Field provided ample entertainment for attendees between races on Sunday, offering a true country racing feel while keeping in-line with current trends in trackside fashion.

The local ladies’ category drew an especially large field of contenders, with Paige Murrell taking first place and Madalene Cleary the runner-up.

In the open women’s, Belinda Nurse from Horsham was awarded first and Jo Crouch from Barrabool, near Geelong, claimed second prize.

The open men’s saw local lads, Stuart Parsons and Darren Murrell, take the double, named winner and runner-up, respectively.

The five-to-12-year-old categories were won by Ella Pullen and Jack Pullen, with Livvy Smith and Sam Wade the runners-up.

The event welcomed a familiar face back to the track, with former local and racing fashion icon, Sharon Smith, judging the day’s events.

Fahsions co-ordinator, Sue Pullen said she was overwhelmed by the number of entries and stunning ensembles on stage for the event.

“The entries this year really were an absolutely stunning line-up of country race-wear – elegant, contemporary and perfect for spending the day trackside at Casterton; Sharon had such a difficult task separating just two entries from the terrific line-ups in each section,” Mrs Pullen said.

“We were most excited to see the growing number of entries in the local ladies’ section.

“There were so many entries we had to split them into two groups and come up with a final five – difficult in itself – before coming up with a top two.”

Brawl erupts

ON THE track it was the Paul Preusker-trained Brawl who took the honours in the Casterton Cup.

With Christine Puls aboard, the four-year-old ran down firm favourite Lunatic Fringe to win the feature race by more than a length, paying out a handy $9 to faithful punters.

Clever Man, from Trevor White’s Mount Gambier stables, placed third.

The race was followed by the announcement that Casterton Foodworks was extending its naming rights sponsorship of the cup – news welcomed by Mr Davis.

“It’s always good to have local business support us,” he said.

Elvison rocks

UNUSUAL scenes occurred during the Two Rivers Steeplechase as Elvison took out the second feature of the day by an astonishing 25 lengths – but was joined on the finish line by a fellow starter.

The Symon Wilde-trained gelding had a stellar run with Aaron Kuru aboard to claim the top share in the record $100,000 stakes – one of a trifecta of wins for the Wilde stables.

Historic came second with Ronan Short aboard - Short returning to the track after riding Elvison to sixth place in the 2021 edition of the steeplechase - while Coleridge, out of the Eric Musgrove stables, placed third.

Mapping and Hierarchal lost their jockeys in the early stages of the race and while Hierarchal was happy to be taken off the track, his partner-in-crime refused to be caught.

Still pursued by course clerks as the field entered the home straight, the nine-year-old Mapping almost stole the show, crossing the finish line, jockey-less, just before Elvison.

Both horses and their jockeys were cleared of significant injury by vets and medical staff.