The Deepwater community will be cheering on the one local horse - Amajill - as she hits top form the week before this year’s Deepwater Races.
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One of the mares owners and club president Doug Stevenson said Amajill is in great form taking home the win in the Female Jockey Race last weekend at Coffs Harbour.
Mr Stevenson said he was super excited about Amajill’s prospects of winning the Deepwater Cup after having a great run and winning by a nose down the coast.
Trained by Luke Berger of Inverell, Amajill is owned by a number of Deepwater and Glen Innes people and ran second in The Deepwater Cup in 2017.
“We are really confident the mare can go one better this year and bring home the cup,” said Mr Stevenson.
“She was bought to win the cup last year but came second, but we are quietly confident she can win this year.”
Amajill has only had a few starts after coming back from a bad leg injury in 2017 that almost ended in her retirement.
Mr Stevenson said while anything could happen on the day, it would be a great win for the local community if Amajill won the Deepwater Cup.
“I would love to shout the bar like John Singleton if this mare wins but I am not sure I am rich enough,” Mr Stevenson joked.
“There will certainly be some extra celebrations if she wins.”
Last year’s winning trainer Paddie Cunningham, who won the Deepwater Cup with the now retired Carry Me Gee Gee, said he is not sure what horse he will be starting in the cup in 2018.
“Picking the right horse for this race isn’t easy,” said Mr Cunningham.
“You have to have something that can sit up on the speed and handle a tight track.
“The track can be rock hard or real gluey so it isn’t always easy to find a horse to suit, it is hard to find a horse that can do both.”
A week out from the races, Mr Cunningham said he didn’t have a definite horse for the cup race but said he would “see what happens on the day”.
“Last year’s win was a great one,” Mr Cunningham said. “There was a big crowd and it was a great day out for us. Deepwater is one of those really good country meetings and they are the lifeblood of the town.
“Everybody likes to go and have a good time, have a bet with the bookies as there is no TAB and that always seems to make these meets a lot more fun.”
Mr Cunningham said the Deepwater Cup Race was wide open this year.
“There will be a horse out there that is kicking at the door and will come good on the day,” Mr Cunningham said. “This is one of the most social race meets around and good country race meets like these help keep these small towns alive so we love supporting them.”
