DECOY Noxious, ridden by top female jockey Kate Witten streaked past the winning post a country mile in front of the second placegetter Wee Ripper, piloted by Renee (Bam Bam) Forrest at the Rockingham Beach Cup on Sunday.
Third was Try 4 Us, ridden by Brayden Gaerth and trained by Adam Durrant.
Decoy Noxious’ trainer Summer Dixon was not on the beach to accept the trophy. She was in isolation, recovering from the Covid virus.
Former Fremantle Docker footballer turned horse trainer and race day microphone man/MC Hayden Ballantyne accepted the trophy on her behalf.
Early estimates are that 20,000 people attended the cup and carnival at the weekend. Firmer figures will result from the analysis of drone footage.
A sunburned but elated beach cup committee chairwoman Donna McDonald said her word for the weekend was “epic”.
"There was such a wonderful atmosphere – fabulous crowds in the licensed area and in Churchill Park," she said.
The organisers owed a huge debt to the racing industry volunteers – trainers, jockeys and strappers, and veterinary support staff – for creating such spectacular races.
The Fashions on the Foreshore competition attracted many more entries. “There were over 30 entries and we had to shut off registrations because there were so many," she said.
The cool but fine weather was perfect, encouraging the crowd to turn out and stay on Sunday, she said. Saturday night was a little too cool to encourage many people to stay for the carnival attractions and free movie.
The new-look, new-feel licensed area allowed better viewing for many more people. The committee tried to provide good disability access to all areas of the Beach Cup carnival. "We had a wheelchair on the beach,” she said.
She met a southwest couple who traveled up for last year’s Beach Cup and had such a great time they came again this year. They brought another couple and a friend with them and had such a whale of a time they promised to be back again in 2023.
Encore after encore was demanded of Dirty Little Secret in the licensed area.
“We learned a lot from being involved in the State Tourism Awards about how to mount a really special event,” Ms. McDonald said.
The community festival was also a step up – notably entertainment and extra-shaded seating areas.
Race director Rob McGavin was also proud of a very successful event. “It was pleasing to see so many people there here – and see Rockingham presented so well," he fed.