Cup race leads to the Big Dance

Northern Rivers horses will be among a strong field of runners in the $65,000 Ballina RSL Club Summer Cup.

Horses, jockeys and trainers from south-east Queensland and NSW will converge at the Ballina Jockey Club today, (Friday, January 17).

The feature race will see the top two finishers qualify for the $3 million Big Dance at Randwick in November.

A host of Northern Rivers trainers nominated horses on Monday, including Ballina’s Stephen Lee.

He was the last Northern Rivers trainer to win the cup in 2019 with Daiki Chujo, Matt Dunn and Ethan Ensby among the local chances this year.

The club is hoping for better luck with the weather after it was called off last year.

Ballina Jockey Club general manager Matthew Bertram said the track had been in excellent condition for its summer of racing.

All eyes will be on the $65,000 feature with another seven races on the card.

“The chance to get to the Big Dance adds so much interest to the day,” he said.

“There is a lot prizemoney around these country race meetings and we always expect a strong field.”

The Kris Lee-trained Spangler finished second in the Ballina Cup two years ago and went on to win the $750,000 Little Dance.

Lees nominated Inver Park and Lord of Biscay this year, with both horses coming off last start wins.

There will be plenty happening on the day with the Ballina Fair Fashions on the Field, a giant screen, food trucks, bar and cafe facilities, a full TAB and bookmakers and an all-inclusive VIP marquee.

A free bus will be operating with tickets online at ballinajockeyclub.com.au and nswtickets.com.au.

Buses run from Alstonville, Ballina and Lennox Head from 11.30am.