Healing Game, the winner of the 2023 Cooktown Cup, will not be returning to defend his crown after being retired by connections. Photo: Cape York Weekly.
Healing Game will not be returning to south-eastern Cape York to defend his crown when the field jumps in the 2024 edition of the Cooktown Cup on Saturday, but trainer Fred Wieland is still confident of returning to Cairns with some silverware.
Thousands of patrons will converge on the Cooktown Racecourse on 9 November for the town’s 150th race meeting but they will not see last year’s winner in the racebook after the six-year-old gelding was retired.
Wieland said despite Healing Game’s retirement, he believed he would be a chance in the showcase race – which is a qualifier for the 2024 Country Cups Challenge – with Battle Royale set to step up in trip to 1760 metres.
“We’re going to have Battle Royale in the cup most likely at this stage,” he said of the Tom Hedley-owned five-year-old.
“It would be good to win it again.
“We’ve probably got about four going up; Cooktown’s a good weekend and a good race meeting to go to if you can win some of the prizemoney.”
Battle Royale has five wins from 18 starts to his name but will but seeking a turnaround in fortunes after finishing sixth in a field of eight over 1500m at Innisfail on 19 October.
The Cooktown Cup will be the highlight of the seven-race program, which kicks off at 12:15pm with the Cape York Weekly Benchmark 65 sprint over 1000m.
Cooktown Amateur Turf Club president Robyn Holmes said the milestone meeting would have something for everyone both on and off the track.
“You don’t need to support horse racing to enjoy the 150th anniversary meeting,” she said.
“Keen fashion enthusiasts often embrace the opportunity to frock up and come to enjoy a great day of fashion, barefoot racing and entertainment; there are a number of fashion categories with excellent prizes on offer.
“Bush racing can be enjoyed by all.”
Ms Holmes said this year’s meeting would allow the community to reflect on a century-and-a-half of local racing and its links to the region’s gold rush in the late 1800s.
“The 150th anniversary of racing in Cooktown goes back to the gold rush, where horse racing became very popular by providing entertainment and a sense of community,” she said.
“With such a long and preserved history, the club has supported the spirit of racing and highlighted the town’s resilient spirit.
“Being our 150th race meeting, I am looking forward to showcasing Cooktown’s rich heritage by bringing patrons and members of the racing fraternity together to enjoy the spirit of racing, fashion and entertainment.”
Gates open at the racecourse at 10am on Saturday.
A bumper crowd is expected to turn out to celebrate 150 years of racing in Cooktown on 9 November. Photo: Cape York Weekly.
