Furphy Bunbury Cup heads to Ascot again in 2023, as track redevelopment project reaches conclusion

Hopes of a last-gasp attempt for the 2023 Furphy Bunbury Cup to return to Bunbury Turf Club have been dashed.

Instead the cup will again be held at Ascot racecourse in Perth as the $25 million track redevelopment project reaches its climax.

BTC chief executive and racing manager Alex Doble told the South Western Times he was hopeful local trainers would be able to return to the venue in either January or February — which was at the top of the club’s priorities.

“We have made the decision to not hold the Bunbury Cup on March 11 in Bunbury, so it will again go to Ascot,” he said.

“We were a chance in having the site handed back to us.

“However, given the uncertainty of the timeline, we did not think it was fair on anyone to really be pushing it to have everyone back.

“In saying that, we plan to have the trainers back training in Bunbury in early 2023.”

While aware people may be disappointed at the prospect of another Bunbury Cup being held up in the big smoke, Doble stressed the importance of not cutting any corners with the project.

“Welfare is always at our front of mind,” Mr Doble said.

“Hopefully in 12 months time, it will not be forgotten, but obivously back to business as usual. They (South West participants) have done an outstanding job.

“They’ve been inconvenienced now for an extended period, but they are still training winners and the morale is still pretty good.

“We cannot wait to have our trainers back in Bunbury and let them grow their businesses from there.”

Last year’s Furphy Bunbury Cup in Ascot was declared a dead-heat between Collie mare Paddy’s Shadow — trained by Raquel Williams — and True Attraction.

Doble said he was thrilled with how many South West participants featured in last Saturday’s lucrative $1.5m Furphy - Railway Stakes (1600m) at Ascot, with riders Kyra Yuill (Bunbury), Lucy Warwick (Myalup), along with trainers Michael Lane (Boyanup) and Lou Luciani (Capel) at the forefront of the industry’s attention.