MNC Cup on Notts Agenda

09:05 16 August 2026
GRNSW News
Notts County posted the fastest time of the night at Wentworth Park on Saturday and will now target the group 3 Mid North Coast Cup heats at Taree on September 2.

Notts County has had a love affair with Wentworth Park, with Saturday's easy win in 29.70 his fifth success from six visits to the track.

After the race, owner-trainer Ray Sultana said: "I think I will take him to Taree for the Mid North Coast Cup heats next month.

"It is a $30,000 to the winner final on September 12 but a great drawcard is that the placegetters in the Taree final qualify for a spot in the semi-finals of the Million Dollar Chase at Wenty on October 9.''


Goulburn Zoom Top Maiden Classic winner Peanut Keeping brought that form to town when she scored at her first Wentworth Park appearance on Saturday night.

Trained by Courtney Barnes, Peanut Keeping led throughout from box one to win a 520m fifth grade by four lengths in a nippy 29.83.

Winsome Jumbo, owned and trained by Courtney Barnes' mother-in-law Minnie Finn, chased Peanut Keeping all the way and finished second.

Winsome Jumbo, who had box two, ran off and collided on the first turn so was unlucky not to finish closer to the winner.

After the race Minnie Finn said: "We trialled them both at Wenty last Monday and Peanut Keeping ran 29.50 while Winsome Jumbo clocked 29.60.

"But in tonight's race Winsome Jumbo ran out and put his shoulder into a couple of his rivals at the first turn so would probably be better suited drawn wide.

"They are only babies, Peanut Keeping is 20 months old and Winsome Jumbo just 19 months so they have bright futures.

"Winsome Jumbo is eligible for the Richmond Puppy Auction Classic in November as I bought him at the sales there, paying $12,000 for him.

"He is from the next litter to my big race winner Winsome Jet.''


Courtney Barnes trained a winning double after Shaq Keeping overcame severe interference to win a 520m fifth grade in 30.05.

Shaq Keeping was badly checked when in second place at the first turn and was pushed back to fourth on the back straight.

But he stormed down the outside to run down pacemaker Summer Angel at the top of the straight, before holding off Fearless Bandit to score by a length.

Minnie Finn was in the winner's circle herself when Back Tomorrow, a daughter of her former champion stayer Poco Dorado, notched her eighth Wentworth Park win, clocking 29.83.

Another trainer to win a double on Saturday was David Smith, who was successful with Cyclone Ethics in 30.01 and Kung Fu Ethics in 29.79.


Harness racing identity Michael Boots, who won an Inter-Dominion Championship with Captain's Mistress and also owns champion pacer Hollywood Strip, landed a greyhound winner as an owner on Saturday night.

Boots races Dark Noise, who won a 520m fifth grade in 29.84.

Dark Noise began only fairly but railed through to the lead at the half-way mark and came away to score by five lengths.

Trainer Denice Warren said: "Once Dark Noise gets to the front she is awfully hard to run down.''