Extra incentive as trainers eye off Ballina Cup spot

TRAINERS from across the state and south-east Queensland will be eyeing off a spot in the Ballina RSL Club Summer Cup on January 17.

It should be a memorable day for the Ballina Jockey Club with the Summer Cup one of the biggest races on the Northern Rivers calendar.

The RSL Club has come on board as the major sponsor with organisers planning to make it a major event after it was washed out last year.

The $65,000 feature race has more significance with the top two finishers qualifying for the $3 million Big Dance at Randwick in November.

Ballina Jockey Club general manager Matthew Bertram said the Big Dance qualification has added another layer of anticipation for the event in recent years.

“There is a lot of incentive when owners and trainers target these country cups,” Bertram said.

“If you include the Barn Dance and the Little Dance, you’re looking at $4 million in prizemoney.

“The track is in excellent condition and will be in top shape by the time cup day rolls around.”

The 2024 Big Dance winner Gringotts, qualified by taking out the Tamworth Cup.

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

A decent field will challenge at Ballina while local trainers will have plenty of runners on the day.

Ballina’s Stephen Lee is the last local trainer to win the cup with Nothingforthepress in 2019 and was runner-up with the same horse the following year.

Japanese trainer Daiki Chujo has had success operating out of Ballina while the likes of Brett Bellamy and Matt Dunn have had plenty of winners at the track.

Trainers will have plenty of chances for racing with TAB meetings at Lismore on January 5 and Ballina January 7 in the lead-up.

Cup day will feature live music from The Fermones with free bus transfers.

The Ballina Fair Fashions on the Field will have more than $3000 in prizes with multiple male and female categories.

It all starts the night before with the Calcutta at the Ballina RSL Club.

Tickets for the cup can be purchased at tickets.localtix.com.au.