Jessica Micallef
It was a Kyneton Cup like no other.
No racegoers were in sight last Wednesday to cheer as Mongolian Marshal won the nail-biting 2000-metre feature race, the bet365 Kyneton Cup.
Bartholomeu Dias came in second and Double You Tee placed third.
The event which usually attracts a 4000-strong crowd was limited to essential staff and 15 regional owners who had a runner on the day.
Kyneton and Hanging Rock Racing Club events and operations manager Lisa Evans said it was a great day of racing despite the lack of crowds.
“The hustle and bustle of the Kyneton Cup certainly wasn’t there, but it was a great day,” she said.
“It was a very close finish between three horses. He [Mongolian Marshal ] just pipped the other two horses at the end.
“It was a little bit eerie for us as management. We work all year on that race day so to have no one here, it certainly was a strange feeling.”
Extravagant dresses and impressive millineries are usually front and centre at the Kyneton Cup.
But there were no ladies to walk to the catwalk at the annual Fashions on the Field competition.
“The Fashions on the Field competition is always really strong in Kyneton and has been for a number of years,” Ms Evans said.
“It’s a feature of spring racing and it’s a main attraction for a lot of people who come.
“It was definitely missed and something we have to wait another 12 months for.”
Ms Evans said she was optimistic crowds would be back for a “bigger and better” 2021 Kyneton Cup.
