THE XXXX Gold Northam Cup was run last Sunday at the Northam Racecourse with strong public attendance.
The winner of the cup was Young Lionel, defeating the $1.65 favourite Battle Hero in the $125,000 feature by half a length.
Trainer Lou Luciani said he was ecstatic with the win.
“It’s nice when a plan comes together,” he said.
“We thought we had a chance and that we would be hard to beat.”
This is Young Lionel’s first stakes win.
Mr Luciani has a special place in Northam racing after training Young Lionel’s mother, Prime Again, in the 1994 Northam Cup.
It is his third Northam Cup win overall, first winning with Deluxe Model in 1990.
“The track was in excellent order,” he said.
“Young Lionel was also ridden well by Jarrad Noske and was suited to the tempo of the race.”
Young Lionel had previously raced in the Coolgardie Cup, where he ran third, before arriving in Northam to secure the win.
Northam Race Club manager Nicole Bell said she was pleased with how the day went.
“The day went well and the club is happy with the attendance,” she said.
“It is on par with the 2014 event, to maintain attendance levels when the trend is showing a fall is pleasing.”
The AvonLink train was used to transport people from Perth to the cup, with a second carriage added.
A shuttle bus from the train station to the race course had in excess of 50 people on board.
Northam’s own Nikki Gogan, made her debut as the Face of WA Country Cups at the Sunday event.
As part of her debut, Ms Gogan wore a very special outfit.
Last year Ms Gogan took out the WA Myer Fashions on the Field at Ascot and then went on to claim the runner-up prize at the National Fashions on the Field at Flemington during the iconic Melbourne Cup carnival, in an Anzac-inspired outfit.
To celebrate her success Ms Gogan wore this prize-winning outfit at the Northam Cup.
Ms Gogan complimented best dressed winner Georgia Kennedy on her dress.
“It was really nice to be at home yesterday, people were really complimentary about my outfit,” she said.
“There were plenty of people in marquees, the members’ area and the grandstands.
“The atmosphere was good - the Northam Cup is always a good day.”
Ms Gogan said her next appearance will be November 14 at the Bunbury trots.
The season will then resume from February onwards, with a focus on the South West region
