While the crowd for the Scone Cup last Friday was down a fraction with estimates at just below 8000, turnover was up by more than $400,000.

The crowd for Saturday’s stand-alone metropolitan meeting was up considerably on previous years and so too was turnover.

Scone Race Club’s chief executive officer Sarah Wills said the club could work all year to make sure everything was organised but there were two ingredients they could not provide.

“We can’t provide atmosphere and vibe and both days had it in spades,” Ms Wills said.

“The exciting finishes, the huge fields and the quality of the racing plus all the other entertainment made for a unique two days of racing.

“I think this is what sets Scone apart and we will continue to work hard to make sure it stays that way.”

While the win by Artlee in the Luskin Star was important for the owners and for his young trainer Todd Willan it also                confirmed the form of the Country Championship final and its place in the Championships.

The Country Championship form was further strengthened by the efforts of Loved Up and Oxford Poet.

Loved Up ran sixth in the Country Championship final and two runs later won the the Inglis Guineas while Oxford Poet, third in the championship final, ran second in the Luskin Star.  

Ms Wills believes the Saturday meeting is finally finding a niche with race goers.

“The first couple of Saturday meetings were flat, but we have seen crowd numbers increase every year since and last Saturday was the biggest yet.

“If it had been a nice day I am sure the crowd would have been even bigger.”

The strength of the country training ranks and more particularly Scone’s ranks was underlined by results over the two days.

Greg Bennett winning the Listed Denise’s Joy Stakes with In A Wink and Rod Northam winning his fourth Inglis Challenge with Sargent Doakes.

Then there was Muswellbrook’s Todd Willan experiencing mild panic when Artlee’s regular rider, Mitchell Bell, was injured prior to the Listed Luskin Star Stakes and the panic turning to elation when Goulburn jockey, Richard Bensley, turned in what Willan rated a 12 out of 10 ride to win.

There was Albury’s Brett Cavanough and his straight talk, learned over many years as a shearer, when Loved Up won the Guineas courtesy of an even better ride from Bensley to give the jockey a double.

Cavanough caught sight of the media scrum around Bensley and let fly.

“You mugs, you didn’t want to talk to him for 10 years,” Cavanough said.

It’s impossible to miss Greg Bennett on a race course.

His height, that moustache and his trade mark hat.

While he stood out in the flesh over the two days he was there for all to see in the mounting yard.

A huge picture of Bennett on a poster was attached to one side of the marquee in the parade yard used by the Sky Racing team.

Bennett is blaming a trio of practical jokers – trainers Jeremy Sylvester and “Pud” Davies and Sky Racing presenter Greg Radley.

“I had nothing to do with it,” Bennett said.

“Those three got it made up.

“It was a gee up aimed at me and all in good fun but also a promotion of Scone racing.”