Sport
27 August, 2025
$22,500 Artesian Express the highlight at Julia Creek
The feature race has drawn big nominations on Saturday.
A massive twenty nominations have been received for Saturday’s $22,500 Artesian Express race at Julia Creek, with local trainer Tanya Parry entering nine runners for the Class 2 feature event.
Normally staged in April as part of the Julia Creek Dirt N Dust Festival, this year’s race meeting was moved to September after a late wet season took its toll on camp sites (and the racecourse).
In fact, this will be the first race meeting held at Julia Creek for the year, after winter rain cancelled the club’s last scheduled program.
Unsurprisingly, Parry has a strong hand across all six races at McIntyre Park, but she will find competition from the likes of fellow Julia Creek trainer Kerry Krogh and some visitors.
In the Artesian Express, Blackall trainer David Rewald is eyeing off a big cheque, as is Barcaldine’s Toni Schofield.
Mount Isa trainer Denise Ballard has nominated stable newcomer Viking Valour, who will be first-up since March this year.
Richmond’s Shryn Royes might just have the favourite, however, with the former NSW galloper Trapeze Pleasure looking hard to beat based on his southern form.
The five-year-old, previously trained by David Pfieffer, hasn’t raced for almost a year, but has wins at Newcastle and Hawkesbury, which usually translates to success in the North West.
A big crowd is expected trackside at McIntyre Park, with more than 2000 people tipped to flock to Julia Creek for the Dirt N Dust.
The first race will jump around 1pm and finish just before 5pm, with the rodeo to follow.