Locals dominate the track as visitors lift the fashion stakes at Ballina Cup
A power blackout that later halted racing and betting briefly threw a spanner into proceedings, but it did little to dull the vibrant atmosphere at Friday’s Ballina Cup.
From the outset, the meeting had the feel of a summer celebration.
Thousands passed through the gates at the Ballina Jockey Club, with visitors travelling from Sydney, southeast Queensland and across the Northern Rivers for one of the region’s most anticipated race days.
Hurstville Zagreb ridden by Damian Thornton finishes in the Cup. Main Photo: Ballina Jockey Club chairman Phil Meehan presents the trophy to the winning jockey
Fine conditions, a full eight-race program and a relaxed crowd reinforced the Cup’s place as both a sporting contest and a social highlight.
From the opening race, the locals made their presence felt.
Dunn stamps his authority early
Northern Rivers trainer Matthew Dunn wasted no time asserting his dominance, producing a stable quinella in Race 1.
Shredded proved too strong in the opener, defeating stablemate Grafting in a clear early statement of intent.
The momentum continued through the middle of the card, with Dunn claiming further wins in Race 3 with Tophet, Race 4 with Chief of Staff, and Race 5 when Tietar (NZ) added another victory to the tally.
Across multiple distances and conditions, Dunn’s runners consistently featured at the pointy end, underlining the depth of local training talent.
Mayor Sharon Cadwallader and ‘classic’ Best Dressed man of the day, Bruce Cadwallader
Visitors strike in the feature
While the locals controlled much of the program, the feature Ballina RSL Ballina Cup (Race 7) went south.
Sydney-trained Hurstville Zagreb, prepared by John O’Shea and Tom Charlton at Royal Randwick, proved the class runner in the Cup.
Star jockey Damian Thornton sent the horse forward from a wide draw, controlled the tempo and pulled clear late to score by several lengths.
Dunn’s Cup runner finished eighth after closing strongly, but the feature honours belonged to the visitors.
Why the Ballina Cup matters
The Ballina Cup again carried added significance as part of The Big Dance pathway.
Under the statewide series, winners of designated country Cups earn automatic qualification for The Big Dance Final at Royal Randwick in November, where country and metropolitan horses compete for a $4 million prize pool.
The incentive has helped transformed the Ballina Cup and others into a genuine target races, attracting leading Sydney stables and lifting the profile of regional meetings.
Representatives from Ballina RSL said they were proud to support the Cup for a second year, pointing to its continued growth on the NSW racing calendar.
Strong local finish
Dunn was not finished yet.
He closed the meeting with further success in Race 8, the Ballina Fair Class 2 Showcase Handicap, filling second and third to cap an outstanding day for the local stable.
By the final race, Dunn had delivered four winners, a quinella and multiple placings across the card.
Fashion steals the spotlight
Away from the track, the social side of the Cup remained in full swing.
While locals dominated the racing, out-of-town visitors impressed judges in the Fashions on the Field competition, sponsored by Ballina Fair.
Fascinators, florals and statement headwear filled the course, with judges noting a lift in style from visiting racegoers.
As one fashionista quipped on course, locals may “have to try a bit harder next year to keep up with the out-of-town competition”.
Best dressed stays local
One local who refused to be outshone was Bruce Cadwallader, who claimed Best Dressed Man on the Day.
His classic Akubra top hat proved a winning statement, whether it gave him an edge or unfairly handicapped the rest of the field.
Ballina Mayor Sharon Cadwallader was among those enjoying the atmosphere, as crowds continued to socialise and soak up the day.
Blackout throws a spanner in the works
The meeting’s biggest challenge came just after 1.30pm, when a power outage brought racing and betting to a sudden halt.
Video monitors went dark, EFTPOS and betting systems went offline and airconditioning shut down as temperatures climbed into the 30-degree range.
While the party atmosphere continued around the course, organisers faced anxious moments as punters scrambled for cash and the schedule slipped.
Officials told Ballina News Daily the issue was traced to a newly installed power system that tripped unexpectedly.
With the electrician responsible for the upgrade already on site, power was restored after about half an hour.
One race was delayed and the program pushed back slightly before racing resumed without further incident.
A Cup that delivers
From strong local performances on the track to Sydney success in the feature, fashion flair off it and a genuine test behind the scenes, the Ballina Cup again delivered.
With crowds strong and spirits high throughout, it remains one of Ballina’s standout summer events.
Cash was king for 30 minutes as the blackout darkened screens and shut down systems
