Discovery Day at a gallop on Good Friday

By Matthew Kappos

Apr 20, 2025

Darren Pereira, Cory Brady, Victor Xuereb, Marco Castelli and Tom McDonald. Photo by JORDAN TOWNROW

Good Friday saw the Country Discovery Day come to Echuca Racing Club and the blockbuster racing event had plenty of highlights.

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A strong crowd witnessed 2019 Melbourne Cup winning jockey Craig Williams ride to victory aboard Midwest in the feature race 7, the eponymous $500,000 Country Discovery.

Dieanne Corbyn, Chloe Higgins and Belle Corbyn. Photo by JORDAN TOWNROW

From a local perspective, there was also much to celebrate, as Tongala’s Rose Hammond rode two winners for local trainer Gwenda Johnstone.

After a fifth-placed finish in the opening race, Hammond jumped aboard Thinking Of Gerty in the second, scoring victory over 1200m.

Rose Hammond broke away down the stretch aboard Thinking Of Gerty in race two. Photo by JORDAN TOWNROW

Hammond came into the straight three wide, but surged down the stretch to pull away by almost two lengths at the post.

The final race of the day also proved lucrative for the local, Hammond claiming the win aboard 16/1 shot Impending Shadow.

Echuca Racing Club’s Craig Sutton and Victorian Racing Minister Anthony Carbines announced two co-funded upgrades to the club at the County Discovery Day. Photo by JORDAN TOWNROW

In a crowded field, Hammond looked as if she might be hemmed in as they turned into the straight, but as a gap opened, she was quick to capitalise, bursting past the other runners to win by 1.5 lengths.

Echuca was selected to host the fourth annual Country Discovery Day, which raises funds for the Good Friday Appeal, while simultaneously shining a light on country racing venues.

Brant Clutterbuck, Mia Hale, Ruby Tozer, Kate Sullivan, Joe Mercieca and John Scott travelled from Heathcote for the raceday. Photos: Jordan Townrow.

The Victorian Government contributed $20,000 towards the event as part of the Victorian Racing Industry Fund’s Regional Racing Events Program and Racing Minister Anthony Carbines was on hand to announce additional support for Echuca Racing Club.

Announced was $61,000 for the installation of a 4G mobile coverage system, with the club to match that funding to complete the project.