High Emocean wins the Cup as club celebrates crowds return

The Bendigo Cup had crowds for the first time in three years as racegoers returned following Covid. See the 50+ photos.

The Bendigo Jockey Club says this year’s Bendigo Cup ‘felt right’ as racegoers finally were able to get back to the track to celebrate the region's biggest event.

Racegoers, in their hundreds, braved the damp, wet and muddy conditions to attend this year’s Cup, the first since the Covid pandemic in 2020.

It was the first which allowed crowds and include a Fashions on the Field since 2019.

“To finally be back and have a Bendigo Cup is an absolute highlight after missing out the last three years,” Bendigo Jockey Club acting chief executive Sue Opie said.

“Especially for two years running a Bendigo Cup with no people here, (it) really did not seem right.

“Seeing people storm through the gates at 10.30am this morning and they continually keep coming through, it’s fabulous.”

The recent floods in northern Victoria haven’t helped either with the club forced to move a meet two Saturday’s ago to Ballarat.

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It was also forced to move marquees on Cup day with certain areas of the venue too wet to host it.

There has also been an impact on ticket sales for Cup day.

“It’s difficult to tell so early in the day (how it’s impacted),” Opie said.

“We have had some cancellations from people who booked packages from Rochester, Echuca and Shepparton.

“It’s (the floods) had a fairly big impact on us.”

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Ballarat trained horse High Emocean won the Bendigo Cup with trainers Ciaron Maher and David Eustace making amends for last year when the duo fell short, finishing second, with Smoking Romans.

Jockey Harry Coffey, who has family in the region, won his second straight Cup after winning last year with Wentwood.

High Emocean and a strapper after the horse won the Bendigo Cup. Photo by Jay Town/Racing Photos via Getty Images

High Emocean will now play the waiting game to see if it enters the Melbourne Cup field, which will be finalised on Saturday.

Meanwhile, in race 8, there was plenty of emotions as Echuca’s The Talking Toff won.

The owners Mick Cornish and Donna Gaskin were not only dealing with the recent floods in the region but the sudden loss of Donna’s father who passed away on Tuesday (October 25).

Connections of The Talking Toff after winning the Big Al's Water BM70 Handicap at Bendigo Racecourse on October 26. Picture: Getty Images / George Sal/Racing Photos

The duo almost scratched the horse out of the race to grieve their loss but decided to race in honour of him.

Jockey Neil Farley delivered a memorable win, claiming the race by a short head.

Bendigo’s next meet will be held on November 9.