The Great 2022 Free Rail Travel Challenge – Part 3: Mildura Cup

 

 

 

Jeff Kennett probably never thought a train in Mildura, inter alia, would cost him government.

 

You know the thought process. Safe seat…Labor will never win it…the Nationals have agreed not to run next election…only poor people get trains…what could possibly go wrong?

 

The Victorian Liberal government’s closure of the popular Vinelander rail service between Melbourne and Mildura in 1993 stunned the Sunraysia community.

 

Some ten years earlier up that way, your author had regularly enjoyed many restful nights in her comfy sleeper carriages during overnight trips to and from Melbourne on weekends. Particularly restful on Friday nights since Mildura railway station was directly opposite the Grand Hotel and the train pulled out at 9.30 pm.

 

The issue became the focal point of independent candidate Russell Savage’s campaign which saw him romp home in the 1996 State election defeating the hapless sitting Liberal MLA Craig Bildstein.

 

Savage subsequently became one of three independents holding the balance of power in the Legislative Assembly after the 1999 election. All three of them threw their support behind Steve Bracks thereby enabling him to form a minority Labor government in his first term of office.

 

“Hmm,” Kennett must have thought with apologies to Elmer Fudd, “that pesky train!”

 

 

These days, travel to the Mildura Cup – which features as the third leg in the above title – involves a train to Swan Hill (pictured above) followed by a two and a half hour V/Line bus trip to Mildura. After eight hours of seated orthopaedic challenges to my lower joints – notwithstanding my cushion and a good book – I fondly reminisce about the benevolent old Vinelander’s creaky but comfortable overnight sleeper carriages.

 

 

But hey, any excuse to get back to that lovely clear north of the Divide sunny winter weather will do. Rather like Sylvester the Cat’s, my own claw marks are still visible down the Calder Highway where they dragged me out of the place kicking and screaming in the early 1980’s.

 

So off to Mildura last week it was as part three of my challenge to travel a total of 3,000 kilometres to country race meetings on the four Victorian seniors’ free annual rail travel vouchers. Bairnsdale Cup  was part one while Warrnambool’s Grand Annual  was part two.

 

Mine host is old friend Bruce Holden aka ‘the Golden Holden’ so named after an inauspicious debut at Newtown CC Geelong where he didn’t trouble the scorer until his third innings. In fairness, the hard-hitting left hander later made up for lost time subsequently featuring in several GCA Country Week teams.

 

 

Apart from Golden and the races though there are other local fascinations. He insists dinner at the Spanish Grill is mandatory. Superb steaks chargrilled over Mallee root fires. I see what he means.

 

Our second stop is to accept Almanac colleague Mickey Randall’s challenge to conquer Woodsie’s Maze, a popular albeit somewhat quirky local tourist attraction. I soon discover that, if nothing else, mazes require much patience.

 

 

Well, I tried Mickey. I really tried, but in the end my desire to get to the track eventually outweighed my stubbornness to admit I was lost.  Woodsie’s Maze 1, RDL nil. I can only hope you had better luck mate.

 

Sensing my despair, Bruce mercifully recommends the ‘give up gate.’

 

 

But off to the track and hey guess what? A sunny 18 degrees maximum. Mildura is that shining beacon of beautiful weather at the north-west corner of every weather map we Victorians ever drool over on the nightly news.

 

The Mildura track itself is sandy based and well drained albeit a little tight, hence you don’t need to be drawn out wide. Today’s track is rated a Good 4, no surprises there.

 

We meet several high spirited young local lads. While Golden takes the photo below they ask if this is for my Tinder file.

 

 

When I innocently explain I don’t have such an account they laugh and advise me reassuringly that “you don’t know how much fun you are missing out on matey.”

 

They seem to speak with the kind of authority that only comes with “lived experience”. Just the same, I’m still not entirely sure what it is all about. Better seek Mrs RDL’s advice on the question perhaps.

 

The eight race program is proving to be kind to punters with many favourites saluting. Given this trend, punters put their faith in Cup favourite Cherry Tortoni sending it out at $3.20. The Patrick Payne trained chestnut is a well performed Saturday metropolitan class horse which, of course, does not go unnoticed by the handicapper. He gives it top weight with 62 kilos.

 

In a keenly contested affair, jockey Dean Holland on the Tony McEvoy trained My Boy Birmingham sets the big crowd abuzz as he runs a solid pace in his favourite role as leader eventually opening up a commanding five length break at the 200 metres.

 

As the shadows of the post approach though it starts to tire enabling Teo Nugent to greet the judge with a well timed run down the crown of the track on the Ciaron Maher trained Blaze a Trail. My Boy Birmingham hangs on for second place while the Len Smith trained Proconsent ridden by Alana Kelly runs third. Despite being runner up, at least Dean Holland can take most of the credit for the winner setting a new track record of 1.22.17 for the 1400 metres shaving 0.7 off the old record.

 

 

TAB numbers are 7, 9 and 3. Cherry Tortoni struggles with his big weight and finishes midfield. In keeping with the earlier theme of this column, I draw Golden’s attention to the oft quoted piece of racing wisdom that “weight can stop a train”.

 

As I brace myself for the long trip home reacquainting myself with my cushion and good book, I am comforted with the knowledge that my three free rail vouchers have now taken me 2,246 kilometres in total or 74.9% of my 3,000 kilometre challenge with one more voucher to come.

 

Wodonga Cup on 25 November is locked into my diary.

 

 

“Omnia bona advenium ad terminus.”

 

Parts 1 and 2 of Roger’s train trips can be read Here.

 

 

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