Champions have contested the Stawell Pacing Cup in the past, horses the calibre of Sting Lika Bee, Gyro, Macaree, Garry Rowan, Glamour Chief, Our Blue Steel, Tara Monarch and Inter Dominion winner My Lightning Blue just to name a few.
The latest edition of the race was held on Sunday, December 1 under a new format, with the winner being six-year-old Bettors Delight-Naevia mare Kendys Butterfly for Parwan owner/trainer Paul Parsons.
A $20,000 feature sponsored by Ecycle Solutions over 2600 metres from behind the mobile barrier, Kendys Butterfly started from inside the second line with Jackie Barker in the sulky and settled four back along the markers as Banksofthemurray (gate five), for Mattie Craven, was able to cross Cheerstolou (gate four) shortly after the start.
Hot favourite Rudy Gee (gate two) and Michael Stanley went forward to seriously test the leader, but it was all to no avail as he was left stranded in the open.
No changes were made until the bell when Michael Bellman and Maxy Wants To Play (one/one) commenced a short-lived three-wide move as Rudy Gee called it a day and dropped out sharply. Angling to be one/one in the last lap and five wide on the final bend as Banksofthemurray went for home, Kendys Butterfly surged to score by 1.8 metres over a game Banksofthemurray, with polemarker Silver Mystique third.
The other feature was the $20,000 Wimmera Mallee Vets Stawell Trotters Cup, and what a deserved victory it was for Longlea’s Paul and Rebecca Morrissey when their bred and raced Wishing Stone-Canadian Dream mare Wish Upona Dream was successful.
Trained by Rebecca, Wish Upona Dream was piloted by Ararat’s Michael Bellman, who produced without doubt the drive of the day.
Wish Upona Dream had been second in the SA Trotters Cup and close-up in two runs since, including the St Arnaud Trotters Cup.
After beginning swiftly, she pounced on the lead and opened up a commanding advantage to give her rivals something to chase. Never looking like stopping, Wish Upona Dream greeted the judge 16.7 metres in advance of Suga Daddy, with Love Ya Brother third 4.2 metres back.
