Boxing Day horse racing in Gippsland centred on the annual Drouin meeting, which attracted a healthy crowd keen to enjoy public holiday racing during the festive period.
Bairnsdale was represented by the David Ferguson-trained Bon Torr Mor, which disappointed on its return to racing, finishing last in a 1200-metre handicap. The 12-year-old is expected to improve with the run and is typically competitive during the East Gippsland mountain meetings.
The feature event, the Drouin Cup, was won by Nic Says No ($4.80) for Traralgon-based trainer Troy Kilgower, who prepares his team using the Sale racecourse for trackwork. The 2025 edition of the Cup was one of the most lucrative picnic circuit races in recent years, carrying total prizemoney of $10,000, with the winner collecting more than $4,600.
Ridden by Ben Moffat, Nic Says No proved too strong, finishing ahead of race favourite Sacra ($3) and Understated ($20).
Training honours on the program went to Cranbourne trainer Dennis Julius, who prepared a winning double with Hail Hail ($2.70) and Banjette ($5).
Meanwhile, a number of Gippsland trainers travelled to the Sapphire Coast on Monday in an effort to challenge New South Wales stables on their home tracks. Sale trainers Sharyn Trolove and Rebecca Kelly were represented by six and five runners respectively, while Ensay horseman Rob Gillahan saddled one runner.
Kelly enjoyed success with recent $8000 stable acquisition Tanana, which won a 1200-metre maiden and earned $13,950 for connections. Ridden by experienced New South Wales jockey Shaun Guymer, the $2 favourite jumped quickly, controlled the race throughout and won comfortably by four lengths.
The victory continued Kelly’s outstanding recent form in New South Wales, where she prepared six winners during November and December.
Another of her runners, Hard To Go Wrong, also performed strongly, finishing off well in the straight in the main race on the program, the Tathra Cup.
Trolove was left to settle for two fourth-place finishes with Stewart and Kyokushin, while Gillahan’s runner Wunambal, resuming from a lengthy spell, tired late. The gelding is
expected to improve as racing moves to the mountain tracks closer to its home base.
Racing in eastern Victoria continues this week with meetings at Mornington on Thursday, followed by
Cranbourne and Woolamai on Saturday.
