Metropolitan-grade meet

All is in readiness for another bumper season at the Bunbury Turf Club, which kicks off with the $100,000 TabTouch 3YO Classic (1000m) this afternoon.

With no metropolitan meeting held this week as racing shifts from Belmont Park to Ascot, today’s eight-race program in Bunbury is a standalone and a metropolitan-grade meeting — which, as club chief executive and racing manager Alex Doble explains, is a big deal for local trainers.

“It’s metropolitan-grade prize money so there is close to $500,000 on offer,” he said.

“It’s a great reward for our local participants and we have quite a few of our locals involved here in Bunbury.

“For them to have access to that level of prize money in their own backyard is great for them and obviously the card is highlighted by the $100,000 TabTouch 3YO Classic.”

Despite the threat of showers, the lure of quality racing in the South West should be impossible for many to pass up.

“You get the best jockeys and horses from around the State in your own backyard,” Doble said.

“It’s a great opportunity for the participants but also for the local population to come down and see some serious racing without having to make the hike to Perth.”

Late yesterday seven runners had been confirmed for the feature three-year-old race, with $59,000 on offer for first past the post.

Among the pre-race fancies are Simon Miller’s gelding Valour Road and David Harrison’s runner Chix Pic — with both having won two of their opening three career starts.