By Colin MacGillivray

KILMORE Racing Club officials are thrilled with the return of crowds to the group two Jet Roofing Kilmore Pacing Cup despite wet weather on Friday last week.

Club chief executive Ben Murphy said both the racing and off-track attractions at the 100-stall Bohemian Bulla Market were a hit with the crowd of between 1500 and 2000 people.

“The weather impacted the market during the afternoon, but the market was a success and we’re keen to have it back again,” he said.

“The Mitchell Shire community responded really positively to having that market there, which was great.

“I think the market stallholders and market organisers were really happy with the market as well and are keen to come back.”

Mr Murphy said patrons packed the Kilmore Trackside bistro during the afternoon and evening.

“The grandstand was full. Everything was a real positive for us outside of the weather, which was obviously outside of our control,” he said.

“It seemed like people were ready to come out and have a night out, so we can’t thank the community enough for the support they’ve given us.”

Mr Murphy said New Zealand gelding Rock N Roll Doo was a worthy winner of the $80,000 feature race after hitting the line seven metres ahead of the field.

He said the race solidified the Kilmore Pacing Cup’s status as a lead-in event to the prestigious Victoria Cup in October.

“Rock N Roll Doo is a really impressive horse. It won a group one [race] at Melton the other week, and then to come to Kilmore and win in the way it has, it can win any of the Grand Circuit races,” he said.

“It can go and run in the Victoria Cup and be a real chance, and I think they’re talking about going to New Zealand.

“They are the really key events in Australasian harness racing, so it shows the calibre of the field and the calibre of the horse that won the cup.”

Mr Murphy said the club was committed to hosting the cup on the AFL grand final public holiday each year and was keen to host market stalls again during the racing season.

“We’re keen to get the market back again at some point during the summer because we think it’s a real positive. The market was a real success story out of the event, as well as the quality of the racing,” he said.

Mr Murphy also paid tribute to the club’s track and facilities manager Chris Snell.

“The track raced really well, and that’s a credit to Chris and his team to get the racing up in trying conditions,” he said.

See full racing wrap-up here.