IT was the Hamilton Harness Racing Club’s feature day, with cup day bringing plenty of people through the gates on Sunday, along with a group of local owners who celebrated a cup win.

Despite a mishap early in the day with race three declared a no race, it was a familiar face in the presentation area later in the day.

Terang-based trainer, Marg Lee, won both cups last year, and returned in 2024 with Keayang Chucky saluting in the trotters cup.

“We won it last year with a special mare in Keayang Livana, and Keayang Chucky is a really good trotter,” Lee said.

“Paddy has done a lot of work with him and it is just great to win another cup.

“It was probably a winning move when Jason (Lee) took off and went around to the front, then he opened up and won really easily.”

Lee was also named club’s Trainer of the Year for 2023.

In the feature race, it was a local flavour for the winners, after Fides saluted with Mattie Craven in the seat.

Caleb Lewis is one of the local owners and told The Spectator after the race how much the win meant.

“It feels very good, it is a big relief,” he said.

“It has been a long process with this horse, and he has certainly paid us off in spades and it is a great result for the family.

“We are all locals here along with the rest of the owners, so we are very proud.”

Coming off a two-and-a-half-year layoff and winning first up last week, his form was positive going into the day.

“Everyone tries to win their own hometown cup, and we are thankful we got the right horse and the run and it all worked out,” Lewis said.

“He’s very easy to drive, you can only drive him one way – he was patient enough to get that little bit of cover and he ended up blowing them out of the water.

“I have driven in cups, I have trained horses in cups, owned plenty of horses in cups and been to every cup since I was a little fella – it is not the most cherished race on the calendar, but it is very prestigious for us.”

Results

Race 1: (MR :  1:59.6) – 1st KEMPSEYS DELIGHT for trainer Ken Taylor and driven by Ryan Backhouse; 2nd BINNO MAJOR for trainer David Murphy and driven by Brent Murphy; 3rd VEGAS PRINCE for local trainer Rob Barker and driven by Rod Barker.

Race 2: (MR: 1:58.9) – 1st MIKI STEAMED HOME for trainer Jim Barker and driven by Jackie Barker; 2nd CTYSIREN for trainer Michael Barry and driven by Lochie Cook; 3rd LINE UP JACKIE for trainer Barry Finnis and driven by Jason Finnis.

Race 4: (MR: 1:56.7) – 1st BURNING HOT for trainer Graeme Howard and driven by James Herbertson; 2nd SIR ROMAN for trainer Zac Steenhuis and driven by Liam Older; 3rd HEZ ALL ROCK for trainer Bec East and driven by Michael Bellman.

Race 5: (MR: 2:01.4) - Won by KEAYANG CHUCKY for trainer Paddy Lee and driven by Jason Lee; 2nd MERCENARY for trainer Kelvin Barker and driven by James Herbertson; 3rd   ALDERBARAN KEEPA for trainer Brent Lilley and driven by Chris Alford.

Race 6: (MR:  1:55.4) - Won by JOELITA for trainer Marg Lee and driven by Jason Lee; 2nd CURYO GENTLEMAN for trainer Rod Carberry and driven by Michael Bellman; 3rd    ROSARITO MISS for trainer AJ & BJ Tindale and driven by Tayla French.

Race 7: (MR:  1:56.5) - Won by FIDES for trainer and driver Matthew Craven; 2nd SEW WHAT for trainer Dianne Giles and driven by Jackie Barker; 3rd ARGGGHHH for trainer /driver David Miles.

Race 8: (MR: 1:56.1) - Won by GUNNA ROCK for trainer Alyce Finnis and driven by Jason Finnis; 2nd BONA KHAN for trainer Joanne Pengelly and driven by David Murphy; 3rd ITZ BULL SPEED AHEAD NZ for trainer Brent Lilley and driven by Chris Alford.