While the traditional Boxing Day meeting attracted a huge crowd for a meeting highlighted by the Goodwood Cup, today’s Cup won’t be as big a crowd but with richer highlights, headlined by the $30,000 Fencing North West Inverell Cup (1400m) and the $17,000 Country Capital Motel Shorts Handicap (1010m).

Current Perth Cup holder Black Tycoon also makes a guest appearance, Inverell committeeman  Mike Witherdin said.

“It’s been one year to the day since his biggest win (Perth Cup),” Witherdin said.

“The now retired winner of over $800,000 will be paraded prior to the running of the Inverell Cup.”

He said Black Tycoon is one of racing’s fairytales. 

After being beaten in a maiden race at Kalgoorlie on Anzac Day 2011,  he took his owners on the ride of their lives, progressing from bush races to being a consistent metro winner in Perth and then the glory of the Perth Cup over 2400m on New Year’s Day 2014. 

After a second placing in the 3200m Adelaide Cup, the horse was transferred to Victoria with the ultimate hope in racing of making it to Flemington on the first Tuesday in November for another 3200m race.

Black Tycoon did race at Flemington on Cup Day, not in the Cup, but in one of the support races and, after a disappointing run, he was retired. 

Inverell Jockey Club president Don Bartlett thanked co-owners Dave and Karen Fenton for allowing Black Tycoon to make the guest appearance and hopes the local crowd turns up to give them a big welcome like they did when champion sprinter Takeover Target was the Inverell club’s  guest a few years ago.

 Witherdin said the 100 acceptors makes every race competitive.

“Most races seem to have a coast versus the bush element, with numerous runners crossing the Great Divide for a chance to take our local money,” he said.

“In the Cup, coastal raiders Clunes Rocket ($2.80 favourite), Murvate and Spanish Smile will have their work cut out when they meet the in-form topweight Monashee Woods trained by Sue Grills and the much-improved Jane Clement-trained Jedak.

“Jedak will be trying to give Clement and part-owner Phil Lyne back-to-back Cups after the win of Wolfgang’s Boy last year.

“Jedak has had an amazing 18- start preparation, commencing with a last at Binnaway in May followed by gradual improvement with racing. 

“He has recorded five wins from the last 10 runs, including a win over the Cup course and distance in November.”

Taree sprinter Floral Insight carries a massive 64kg less a 3kg claim for apprentice Mollie Partridge in an attempt at a hat-trick in the Country Capital Motel Shorts Handicap, Witherdin said.

“Floral Insight won the race in 2013 and followed up with a record-breaking win in 2014, carrying 63kg,” Witherdin said.

“The field this year is much stronger, with established sprinters Jet Style and Hot Rhythm first up from spells and the in-form Paddy Cunningham stable represented by Aimalac Burra, a winner on the Gold Coast in October freshened up after running second at Doomben in November.”

Witherdin expects a “perfect” racing surface too.