Christine Puls was there when the Great Western fire took hold and forced the abandonment of Sunday’s Cup meeting

Great Western Cup day could well have ended in disaster had it not been for the quick actions of stewards and officials says jockey Christine Puls.

Christine Puls was in attendance when the fire started at the Great Western Cup meeting. Picture: Supplied

Jockey Christine Puls has praised quick-thinking stewards and Great Western Cup day officials for the safe and rapid evacuation of horses on Sunday after an “only in Australia” fire emergency.

Riders were behind the barriers waiting to be loaded for Race 2 when smoke bellowed in the distance.

“The smoke went from white to black really, really quickly,” Puls said.

“We were very fortunate, the Racing Victoria stewards did a fantastic job and sent us straight back.

“Decisions were made very quickly … from where we were we didn’t actually know how many cars or anything … whether it was in the (horse) float parking or public.

“They sent us all back so we could get the welfare of the horses out of the way and participants.”

Cars alight in the car park at Great Western. Image: The Ararat Advocate

Puls, whose rides on the abandoned card included $50,000 Great Western Cup second favourite Shakespeare, said wind conditions benefited the emergency response.

“We were very fortunate the wind was going the right way,” Puls said.

“If it had been going the other way it would’ve gone straight through horse stalls and the public area but instead it was blowing towards the 1900m chute.

“If you’re going to have a fire there … that’s probably the best way for it to be blown.”

Terrible scenes as our owners try and save their cars. Let’s hope everyone is safe and they can get control of the situation soon. pic.twitter.com/Mp8cbFTaOH

— Roll the Dice Racing (@RolltheDiceRace) January 23, 2022

About 20 vehicles bore the brunt of the blaze, said to be triggered by dry mown grass coming into contact with a car‘s hot catalytic converter.

Puls said all horses, jockeys and stable staff were evacuated within 10 minutes as firefighting aircraft worked on the inferno.

“Once they realised actually what was going on I think everybody kicked into gear pretty quickly,” Puls said.

“Only in Australia, in 30-odd years of being around the races I’ve never, ever, ever seen that.

“You hear of car fires starting, especially on properties, but you never expect to see it, do you?

“Everyone was amazing … there was not a lot of confusion at all.

Great Western Cup day was abandoned after a car fire forced the course to be evacuated.

“I reckon in 10 minutes they had us all off the property … the trainers were amazing, strappers were amazing, jockeys, all off and gone.

“I felt sorry for the public that couldn’t go because either their car was burnt or was out there (in the car park and) they weren’t allowed near it.“

Racing Victoria will make an announcement this week on potentially rescheduling the country cup.

“Gosh, I felt sorry for the club though,” Puls said.

“The track (surface) was the best I’ve ever, ever, ever seen it presented – ever.

“So green and beautiful.”

Originally published as Christine Puls was there when the Great Western fire took hold and forced the abandonment of Sunday’s Cup meeting