ARMIDALE Greyhound Club’s cup carnival has flown out of the boxes with over 155 nominations for the first of three ten-race meetings in as many weeks.
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Club president Garry Carson said it was the most noms he had seen in his 20-year involvement in the club.
“It is absolutely great for the club,” Carson said.
“If we can maintain that next week it is a really good sign for the Cup fortnight.”
The day will kick off with two maiden heats of the Robbie Munn Maiden series named after the Tamworth club president who is the lure driver for Armidale at many meetings through the year.
The third will be the Armidale Express Stakes fifth grade with the likes of MIdnight Rock, Soliloquy Magic, and Aguero chasing newcomer Le Roi who has had two wins in its last four starts but never run at the track before.
Bookmaker and curator Barry Mitchell and his family’s hard work through the year is honoured with three heats over 440m.
The Mitchell Family Sprint Series is a well received race every year, with first and second and then the next best two ties qualifying for the $1000 final on Cup day.
The Benita Johnson McDonald’s Sprint is also worth $1000 in the final on cup day with the Armidale Cup itself worth $2000.
Race of the day this Saturday will be the 2AD Stakes over the 365m and favourite to win that race is Casino trainer Charles Northfield.
Northfield has four of the eight runners and is a regular every year for the carnival.
Proaron will come out of the inside box with the other three – Pop’s Best, Lunatic Bob, and Porky Teller – jumping from the outside three to give the middle dogs a Northfield sandwich.
They will have to beat track specialist Chanson, who may be getting a bit long in the tooth but is still a great country race dog and has the best time by a third of a second to next best Lunatic Bob.
Kevin Sills’ Mr Riley will be the favourite, with three wins out of his last four starts, the last of which was a good win at The Gardens in Newcastle.
The carnival has again attracted dogs and trainers from all over the north of the state.
Special guests will include Member for Northern Tablelands Adam Marshall and Greyhound NSW board member Megan Lavender who will be there for cup day.
“She is one of only a few who takes an interest in country racing and it will be great to have her here,” Carson said.
“With 155 nominations for ten races, if Armidale wanted to go to TAB racing I don’t think it would affect Tamworth or Gunnedah,” Carson said.
Day one of the three-weekend carnival will kick off at 1pm on Saturday, with gates open at noon.
