Chairman concedes changes to Alice Springs Cup Carnival likely
Having recovered from a successful Cup Carnival, Alice Springs Turf Club chairman Andrew Maloney accepts there could be changes made to the program in the future.
The Red Centre’s Pioneer Park was the centre of attention in the NT throughout April with the ASTC hosting five meetings – culminating on April 30 with the $110,000 Alice Springs Cup (2000m) and $100,000 Pioneer Sprint (1200m).
The final day of the Carnival – Cup Day – is normally held on the first Sunday in May, which might well be the case once again in 2024.
Before 2020 when the Covid-19 pandemic struck, the Alice Springs Cup was traditionally held on the first Monday in May with the Pioneer Sprint taking place earlier on the Saturday.
The ASTC elected to stick with the Cup and Sprint format on the first Sunday in May these past four years, and although Maloney indicated that nothing was set in stone he stressed that there’s every chance the Sprint and Cup could revert back to Saturday and Monday.
Alternatively, the Sprint might be switched to the Friday to give it more prominence.
Covid forced the ASTC’s hand in 2020 and that’s why the Cup and Sprint went ahead on the Sunday.
The Darwin Turf Club had to schedule the $200,000 Darwin Cup (2050m) and $135,000 Palmerston Sprint (1200m) on the first Monday in August during the 2020 Cup Carnival because of Covid with Fannie Bay hosting 12 races.
The Palmerston Sprint usually takes place on the preceding Saturday.
“It was a successful Carnival this year, very much so, it all went well,” Maloney said.
“Apart from having to transfer Ladies Day (Day 2) to the Monday when heavy rain drenched the track, we had perfect weather.
“Very happy with the way things went, the way the racing just ran seamlessly.
“It was terrific and safe, which is always important, with the Cup and the Sprint capping off a great weekend.
“It’s hard to say whether it was a better Carnival than in previous years, but it was certainly very good.
“We are looking at several matters around the 2024 Carnival, including the actual timing of it.
“Everything is sort of up for review at the moment, we will undertake a good review process and see what comes out of that.
“Certainly there’s the possibility of splitting the Pioneer Sprint and the Cup on separate days, we’ll have a look at that, and perhaps when we run the feature fillies and mares race (Queen Of The Desert).
“We’ll just go through the process now, have lots of discussions, rule things in and out.
“You always look to improve and we’ll probably put out a bit of a survey, get some feedback, see if there are any areas that we need to specifically look at.
“A general review that might lead to a bit of an overhaul, but other than that we just keep doing what we do.”
Switching the Pioneer Sprint to the Friday (Day 4) to ensure that Day 1 of the Carnival has a high-profile race such as the Queen Of The Desert, which is currently the main race on Day 4, is certainly an option.
“As I said, everything is up for review – including having a big race on the opening day of the Carnival,” Maloney said.
“I was also happy with the track, it played perfectly, they seemed to be coming from behind, leading if they could, up the inside – it’s always the aim to try and make it consistent so you can come from anywhere.
“I think that was achieved this year probably more than most.”
Maloney was happy to see local trainers win the two features with Dick Leech taking out the Cup with Write Your Name (Jade Hampson) and Terry Gillett securing the Sprint with Supreme Attraction (Stan Tsaikos).
As much as he admired the efforts of Gillett and Tsaikos, Maloney had high praise for Leech, the top trainer in the Red Centre this season, and Hampson – the leading trainer and jockey during the Carnival.
“Dick’s had a very hot start to the year and won five races on Day 2, but he’s invested heavily in the Alice having built brand new stables and his success is well deserved,” Maloney said.
“It was brilliant to see Jade win the Cup – she has been riding so well lately and also came close to winning the Pioneer Sprint when Expert Witness came second.
“The apprentices dominated the Carnival, Ianish Luximon rode the second most winners.’
As chairman, Maloney was kept busy during the Carnival and every day was a highlight, except for the wash-out on Ladies Day (Day 2), with the final weekend capping off a big four weeks.
“We had a great start to the final weekend on the Thursday night with the racing minister’s cocktail party and then the barrier draw for both the features with racing personality Nick Quinn as MC,” he said.
“Friday was good racing, former Melbourne Cup winning jockey Jimmy Cassidy was fantastic at the lunch, and then we had a very successful Tried Horse Sale.
“Our last couple haven’t been that good, but with the involvement of Magic Millions, as well as Andrew O’Toole and Greg Aldam from Thoroughbred Racing NT, they found seven really good horses with most selling for good money.
“Our Calcutta was well attended on the Saturday, I believe it was one of our largest pools in recent times that’s for sure.
“And then on Sunday, Cup Day, we had a good crowd, a happy crowd, and our hospitality staff did a magnificent job.”
Sadly, the ASTC farewelled race-caller Dylan Bairstow, who had spent over three years in the Red Centre, following the Carnival.
“Dylan is a big loss, he slotted in nicely in Alice and was getting better and better as a race-caller,” Maloney said.
“Family circumstances dictated he needed to be back home to Perth, but it creates an opportunity for someone else.”
They don’t race back at Alice Springs until May 28, but the Tennant Creek Racing Club – 500km up the Stuart Highway – will host it’s annual Cup meeting on the sand at Hagan Park this coming Saturday.
“I’ll be up there for that,” Maloney said.
“It will be interesting to see what nominations they get, but I’m expecting they’ll get good fields.”