LIGHTS GO OUT ON A MEMORABLE 20TH NIGHT RACING SEASON AT THE VALLEY
With 120 races down and eight to go heading into the 2016/17 Night Racing Season Finale tonight, we’re celebrating the highlights of our 20th season under lights at The Valley.
Across 15 night race meetings we have witnessed some memorable moments that has seen over $9 million in prizemoney won and 15 black-type races run from September through to March.
In the lead-up to tonight’s Group 1 Keogh Homes William Reid Stakes, we’ve taken a look back at the most memorable moments:
5 – You couldn’t Miss her
Not many thoroughbreds attract or demand the same attention as George Osborne’s striking mare Miss Vista, who stopped into The Valley on Derby Eve (October 28) to chalk up her third career win. Capturing the imagination of the racing public after two sizzling victories, the uniquely marked Kyneton galloper claimed Heat 5 of the Inglis 55 Second Challenge, and briefly the lead for the series, to the delight of racegoers who came to get a glimpse of this spectacular mare.
4 – Sirbible puts the ‘S’ in sizzle
Over 117 heats of the 55 Second Challenge, only once have we seen a quicker time than that of 54.84 set by Sirbible on Remembrance Day on November 11. The former Alice Springs galloper had never step foot over the unique 955 metre short course before setting the clock alight and missing the record by just 0.15 seconds. Since Heat 5 Russell Bell has sat anxiously through a further 10 heats and tonight has one hand on the $50,000 sales voucher thanks to Inglis, with one more race to survive.
3 – The mighty Malaguerra from Moe
Already a Group 1 winner last preparation, racegoers again sat up and took notice of Malaguerra after he not only he knocked off Black Heart Bart in the Group 2 Browns Sawdust & Shavings Australia Stakes in January, but equalled the 1200 metre course record for good measure. The Gelagotis trained runner left four Group 1 winners in his wake as he strode clear for a two-length victory to the loud cheer of the now famous celebration from the boys from Moe!
2 – Rebel causes Manikato upset
The richest race under lights in Australia never fails to deliver a memorable finish. In recent years the finishing bursts of Buffering, Lankan Rupee and Chautauqua all ring true. One driving finish that punters would rather forget was the 60/1 blowout result of Rebel Dane. It was a case of fourth time lucky for the seven-year-old in the Manikato Stakes on October 21, with a rail hugging ride from Ben Melham landing the $600,000 first prize.
1 – We’re talking Extreme speed!
Mick Price certainly wasn’t shying away from the land’s best sprinters when he set Extreme Choice for the Group 1 Moir Stakes on September 30 for his first start as a three-year-old. Taking on no less than Chautauqua and Buffering, after having won the Blue Diamond in the Autumn, Craig Newitt unleashed the youngster against the seasoned campaigners and sprinted straight on by for a dominant victory!