Goulburn will host its final race day for 2020 on Friday and the day will honour one of its most tireless contributors in Fred Cooper.
“Super Cooper” as one official dubbed him years ago, receives due recognition with the feature race on the program, The Fred Cooper Cup over a mile and presents on Friday in its 11th edition.
Despite a sprightly eighty-eight years on the clock, Cooper still loves a wisecrack, having one at his own expense when casting any eye over the form guide for his race and spotting a horse called All But Gone.
“Geez I hope that’s not an omen for me…. not just yet anyway”, Cooper quipped.
Cooper also touched on the frustration of not being able to get out to the track for a large part of 2020.
“It will be a real pleasure to be back at the races this Friday after the Covid 19 restrictions we have all gone through.”
“I’ve always really enjoyed just being at the track whether it’s a race day or not. ”
Cooper takes great pride in seeing the locals go big on their home track and taking his 88 years as a form reference he has immediately found ‘the 8’ (Defy) in his own race as being a local hope. Defy (Twinstar Racing) will carry saddle cloth number 8 and take up the cudgels for the locals in the feature. The gelding has a handy record at a mile but will need to shake off a plain home track record and a host of out of towners to snare some major money in the race.
Goulburn’s first meeting for 2020 back in January was dominated by city stables with six of the seven races won by the boys from the big smoke. And whilst this last meeting for the calendar year could easily go the same way with a host of city dwellers trekking to the tablelands on Friday, a ‘push back win or two’ by the locals in honour of Cooper, one of the club’s favourite sons, would be ideal.
For those who believe in the racing gods or are looking for a positive lead on the day here’s a quick run-down of those locals accepted on Friday’s Goulburn card.
Race 1 – JAN FENTON CELEBRANT CLASS 1 & MAIDEN PLATE 2100M
Zarafah ($) (Emma & Lucy Longmire) – genuine each way chance with strong highway handicap form of late.
Judicator ($) (Emma & Lucy Longmire) – approaching peak fitness on home patch but needs to improve
Renwick (4) (Jade McDonald) – genuine roughie but stays low in the weights.
Race 2 – KANE SMITH MEMORIAL BENCHMARK 58 HCP 1000M
Vee Eight ($) (Sue Laughton) – has been freshened and drops right back in trip
John’s Law – ($) (Karen Welch) – needs to find more
Race 4 – KEL CAMPBELL HEAT OF THE RISING STAR – CLASS 1 HCP 1400M
Charm Maker ($) (Jean Dubois) – lightweight better suited second up back in class
Race 5 -TWINSTAR RACING FRED COOPER CUP 1600M
Defy ($) (Emma & Lucy Lognmire) – not suited on a leaders’ track in latest, can improve.
Seton ($) (Jade McDonald) – tough ask on recent form
Race 6 KILPATRICK HOLDINGS F&M MAIDEN PLATE 1200M
Wegee Lou ($) (Geffrey Crothers) – respect fresh with a drop of rain in her favour
Diamond Run ($) (Stephen O’Halloran) – prefer to see on debut
Race 7 – RADIO GOULBURN CG&E MAIDEN PLATE 1200M
Agent Gibbs ($) (John Bateman) – nasty draw for debut outing
Giftgiver ($) (Stephen O’Halloran) – genuine threat resuming for a second campaign
Rocky Edge ($) (Tash Burleigh) – stable can produce them fresh so respect on debut
