Graham Fischer

TUBBY Two Tracks is the 2020 Gawler Cup winner as a capacity attendance packed the Gawler & Barossa Jockey Club to witness the cup day proceedings.
Even though COVID-19 restrictions capped the crowd at 1000, a wonderful day of racing took place, with three feature events keeping the sociable crowd entertained.
Dylan Caboche was aboard Tubby Two Tracks as it ran home strongly to claim the Holdfast Insurance Gawler Cup, with the horse trained at Morphettville by Chris Bieg.
The $11 chance sat slightly off the pace in transit, before sprinting strongly to score by a half-length from Sasun ($31) with Pearl Bandit ($4.80), 1-1/4 lengths away third.
For Caboche, it was his second cup win, having scored on Lady Silhouette for Gawler trainer Gary Searle in 2017.
The time-honoured Evanston Sprint, now sponsored by Adelaide Plains Bloodstock, was won by five-year-old mare The Publikin, trained at Strathalbyn by Grant Kluske and ridden by Claudia Lions.
The Publikin ($9.50) scored by a half-length from Haneda ($9) with the local Rustydustysunshine ($12), trained by Ron Campbell, a long-neck away third.
Winning trainer Grant Kluske revealed the winner had played up on the float on her way to the races which resulted in her stablemate Don’t Dismiss having to be scratched from an earlier race.
“She can be a bit naughty at times, but the win has made it all worthwhile,” he said.
The bonus for connections was the bonus prize that came with first place, courtesy of the race’s local sponsorship of the Sir Prancelot Series by Cornerstone Stud at Angaston.
As part of the first prize, because The Publikin was a mare, she collected a free service to Cornerstone Stud’s boom young stallion Valentia.
Patrons were also treated to the G&J Civil Road To Jericho Cup heat run over the extreme distance of 3340 metres.
Matas, which won over 3000 metres at the previous meeting, handled the extra trip with ease to run out a nine-and-a-quarter length winner.
Trained at Murray Bridge by Michael Hickmott, and ridden by Jessica Eaton, Matas ($1.85 fav) beat Ironical ($7) with Golden Flag ($3), just over two lengths away in third.
The winner is now qualified for the Jericho Cup final which will be run at Warrnambool in Victoria in December, and Hickmott said the mare would represent South Australia in good style.
“Ablaze won this race at Gawler last year and went on to win the final, and hopefully Matas can do the same,” Hickmott said.
The next Gawler meeting is Ladies Day on Thursday, November 5, to complement the VRC Oaks meeting at Flemington during the Melbourne Cup carnival.