Campbell could have Tabs on Anniversary Cup

31 October 2012 - Maiden Gully trainer Paul Campbell is banking that Dual Agent Tabman’s good Bendigo record will get him over the line in Saturday night’s $10,000 Major In Art Alabar Anniversary Cup (2150m) at Lord’s Raceway.
Dual Agent Tabman was a beaten odds-on favourite at his most recent Bendigo start but that was one of the few occasions that the seven-year-old Rustler Hanover gelding has finished out of the cheques at his local track. Campbell who drove Dual Agent Tabman at his last win, which was on the Bendigo track in September, is back in the driver’s seat for the Cup. “I have the horse as well as he can be for the feature race and it would be a nice one to win,” Campbell said.”The owners have been very patient  and understanding with the horse, he has a great record overall with a better than 54% strike rate at picking up top three prizemoney, he and they (the owners) deserve to win a race like this.”  Dual Agent Tabman has raced 80 times, earning prizemoney on 43 occasions, winning 9 races and finishing top three 34 times. His Bendigo record is excellent too with 5 wins and 9 top three performances from 23 races starts on the track. On Saturday night the winner of $65,000 will start from an ideal gate three position in the seven horse Cup field. Lightly raced 8-year-old Bad Cat, drawn at gate one for Ian Dornauf is in form and looks the horse to beat. Bad Cat showed good speed to lead and win at Shepparton last Saturday night and from the ideal draw driver Matthew Dornauf will be again keen to adopt the same tactics. Djibouti (Ruth and Chris Shinn) which had no luck when he finished midfield in the Gammalite won by Carribean Blaster at Melton in September also looks a top Cup hope, despite his outside draw. 
The Anniversary Cup marks 58 years of racing at Lord’s Raceway and is one of four feature races at Bendigo’s outstanding event, the other features are the Qantas Holiday’s Veteran Drivers Challenge Trot, the Travel Centre Bendigo Victorian Monte Trot Championship and the Ken Pocock Memorial.
Race for Fun Club members are invited to enjoy the big race night for and cheer on the Bendigo’s charity filly Addy aka Spirit Of Bendigo which lines up as number one in the last race of the night, the Race For Fun Club pace. Spirit Of Bendigo trained by Paul and Maree Campbell started favourite last week at Shepparton when beaten a half neck in a three way photo finish. Daryl Douglas will drive the filly. The first of 10 races starts at 6:20pm with gates open at 5:00pm  for the event entertainment which includes and family carnival with free children’s rides including Rainforest Activity Centre, Quad Bikes, Pig Train Ride, Swinging Chairs and kids Plasterrama plaster painting.  There’s major prizes to be won in the club’s  competitions including the  fabulous Travel Centre Bendigo/ Qantas Holidays “Win a New York Holiday for 2” prize draw plus cash prizes in the Owner for a Race competitions and Busking Competition. There is something for everyone with Pony Trotting, Ag-Art Fashion Parade, trackside interviews with MC Tanya McDermott and all the action on the on track screen. The club has catering and betting covered too with restaurant, bistro, and food vans, bars,  lawn picnic area, bookie, tote betting and the tote van.