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Admiral Promo, trained by Susan Olive, wins Moora Cup as races draw crowd of 1300 fans

Reuben CarderMidwest Times
A file photo of Natasha Faithfull on Quintessence in the Moora Cup.
Camera IconA file photo of Natasha Faithfull on Quintessence in the Moora Cup. Credit: Ashlea Brennan/Albany Advertiser, Ashlea Brennan

The Moora Cup drew a crowd close to the population of the whole town on Saturday, with race fans from across WA flocking to the action.

Six-year-old gelding Admiral Promo, ridden by South West jockey Kate Witten, won the $24,500 feature over 1800m for Gingin-based trainer Susan Olive.

Moora Races president Greg Wright said higher prizemoney thanks to more sponsors and the meet being featured on SKY Racing had helped draw about 1300 people on course.

“I think they just enjoy that they can come out to the country and it’s a little bit different to the city,” he said. “There are a few flies and some dust around, and they don’t mind that. It’s getting bigger than Ben Hur, really. I think over the years the age of people coming to the races has changed a lot.

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“They know they can come and have a great time with two or three mates and enjoy themselves thoroughly. It only takes two or three people from Perth and they go back and tell another five or six and before you know it you’ve got a big following. (The attendance) is probably up a couple of hundred on previous years. It was a very successful day,” said Mr Wright.

He said increasing the prizemoney had helped fill fields and draw in crowds, and there was a “huge demographic” of people from the across Mid West, metro area and other parts of the State, with many people in the 18-to-25-year-old age group.

The club would now look to improving toilets and amenities to deal with its growing popularity, he said.

Kiwi horse Block of Land won race one for Karnup-based trainer Aaron Pateman, with Kate Southam aboard. Pateman and Southam also won race two with Zeewijk.

Lording, trained at Bullsbrook by Barry Newnham, won race three with Nicole Hopwood aboard. Mollie Clarke piloted Pit to Win, trained by Bindoon-based Bruce Kay, to the win the fourth.

Another Kay horse, Dynamite Alf, ridden by Hannah Fitzgerald, won the final race.

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