LOCAL trainer Collette Cooper and South Australian trainer Ron Campbell were the big winners on a massive day of racing across Sunraysia yesterday.
Campbell’s horse Pelekunu Valley led from the start to take out the Wentworth Cup while victory was sweet for Cooper as her horse Nitonic saluted in the National Ag Mallee Cup at Mildura in front of a home crowd.
More than 5000 punters flocked to the races at either Mildura or Wentworth, with both meetings drawing strong turnouts.
For Cooper it was her second Mallee Cup win and one to savour in front of her home crowd.
“It’s a great feeling,” she said.
“It’s good for racing too to see a local win, a local horse that trains here and I think he’s done us proud.
“It’s been a great day, there are a lot of people and it’s a good atmosphere.
“It would be nice to win the big Mildura Cup, but I’ll settle for this one today.’’
For more of this story, purchase your copy of Wednesday’s Sunraysia Daily 04/11/2009.