mmg.com.au

One local syndicate had plenty to celebrate yesterday when five-year-old Dubawi Gold crossed the finish line to win the $70 000 Echuca Cup.

Dubawi Gold emerged the winner in the 11-strong field to claim the first prize worth $42 000 during the two-day racing carnival.

Trained by Adelaide-based trainer Stuart Gower and ridden by jockey Thomas Sadler, Dubawi Gold beat the favourite Hotham Heights, trained by Luke Oliver, while trainer Anthony Freedman, who won the Echuca Cup last year, picked up third with Population.

Dubawi Gold was fast out wide from the barrier and was a neck in front on the home bend.

He surged into the lead coming into the straight to win by a length.

Echuca Racing Club chief executive Alex Doble said the syndicate members were ‘‘over the moon’’ and it was great to have local winners for the cup.

‘‘They have a tradition of training horses and then going up to the carnival up in Darwin,’’ Doble said.

‘‘It was just a bit of a hangover from that.

‘‘I think the horse has had a few problems and they’ve got it right and obviously today was payback time from their perspective.

‘‘I can imagine the thrill if I won my local cup.’’

The other key race yesterday, the $40000 Shadoways Sprint, was won by trainer Jason Warren with Jayconi, ridden by Katelyn Mallyon.

Echuca trainer Daryl Archard celebrated a win in race five, a 1000m event, on Saturday with Erghaam, Cheryl Kyle-trained Oh To Be Rich won Saturday’s $40000 Millewa Spa Classic, while leading trainer David Hayes had four winners across the weekend.

Doble said the weekend had ‘‘a real carnival feel, but also a real community feel’’.

‘‘It was country racing at its best,’’ Doble said.

‘‘The track ran outstanding. It was rated a Dead4 yesterday, and it remained a Dead4 and wasn’t elevated to a Good3 until about halfway through the day.

‘‘The track boys have gone through 15 races and the track’s still in great order.’’

Doble estimated the club attracted 3500 guests for the two-day carnival, which was still a success, even though it was slightly lower than the 5000 expected prior to the weekend.

‘‘We ticked the event boxes. Everyone had a good time and it was safe environment and the shuttle buses were a great success, taking everyone home safely after the event,’’ he said.