Star connections in country final

ONE of the biggest race days in local history has culminated with a group of horse owners now aiming for a $1 million prize packet.

Tribeca Star won the $150,000 country qualifier at Lismore Turf Club, and will now compete in the national final at Randwick.

Murwillumbah trainer Matt Dunn trained Tribeca Star and runner-up Fukubana, with both horses qualifying for the final in April.

“I’m very proud of all three horses [Dunn also had Lubrication in the field], they all ran as well as we hoped, if not better,” Dunn said.

“They probably finished in the order we thought they would, too. You can’t ask for much more than that.”

Dunn could have a third runner, with Lubrication going into the wildcard race for the northern region at Scone on March 21.

Tribeca Star is part of the Northern Rivers-based Viva Racing syndicate and has several local connections who are part of the ownership group.

It won the country final last year and competed in the $2 million Kosciuszko race.

Viva Racing owner Mitch Lowe is thrilled to see the horse run again on the big stage in the country final, and is optimistic it can bring home the top prize after finishing seventh last year.

“The horse is in career best form, he will be very hard to beat,” Lowe said.

“There are local connections everywhere with this horse and it would be huge for the Northern Rivers if he goes on to win it.”

The country final is set down for April 5.