Club punt on black type chance

The Bunbury Turf Club will reach into its own pockets and raise the AHA Cup stakes to $80,000 this year in a bid to have the 2000m staying feature become a Listed race.

The $30,000 injection brings the prize money for the traditional Bunbury Cup dress rehearsal to the required level.

Although the race will remain a handicap this season, BTC marketing manager Brody Russell said the club wanted the AHA Cup to be a black type race.From this year, a maximum top weight of 62kg will apply and apprentices will not be able to claim their allowance.

“We first discussed trying to get the race towards Listed status last year,” Russell said.

“The club decided to make the investment with the long-term view of having another permanent Listed race on the program.”

The increase comes after the BTC slashed the Bunbury Cup stakes from $130,000 to $110,000 last season.

If given Listed status, the AHA Cup will become Bunbury’s fourthblack type race — the most of any regional turf club in WA — and one of just 11 held outside the metropolitan area.

Racing and Wagering WA Thoroughbred racing manager David Hunter described the upgrade as the last piece of the puzzle in a popular autumn galloping campaign which includes Listed races in the Detonator Stakes (1800m) on February 16, Bunbury Cup (2200m) on March 14 and Pinjarra Cup (2300m) on March 24.

He said he would put the race forward to the Australian Pattern Committee later this year.

Hunter, who represents WA on the committee, revealed he did not expect the upgrade to be “too difficult”.

“To be considered for the first time it has to have been run at its latest running for a minimum of $80,000,” he said.

“That’s why the club is doing it this year so in subsequent years it can be considered.”

Russell said hosting quality races in regional WA was important.

“It gives the outer clubs a chance to showcase their clubs and get the better horses to the regions,” he said.

“That’s what brings the punters.

“People like to see good horses go round so Listed races are a good way to ensure you get quality fields.”