YOUNG reinsman Ben Xiriha is on the hunt for his first country cup victory as he sets sights on both the pacing and trotting features this Sunday night, March 9 at Wangaratta’s Avian Park. The 22-year-old will take the reins on the Tony Xiriha-trained Sunstar in the Yarrawonga Refrigeration and Airconditioning Wangaratta Pacing Cup, where he will start from barrier six in the 2210-metre event. “I think he’ll run a really good race,” Xiriha said. “We’ll look to use his explosive gate speed.” “Aside from Pitty’s [Mark Pitt] horse [Ivana Bytheseaside], all the main dangers are off the back, and I reckon the smaller track will really suit my bloke.” Past pacing cup winners include Inter Dominion champion I Cast No Shadow, along with Nerano and Wotdidusaaay. Following that event is the Reflex Glass/J and T Joinery Wangaratta Trotters Cup, where Xiriha will team up with Buslin Brody from barrier three in the 2210-metre event. This speedy trotter is also trained by his father, Tony. “Buslin Brody was really good first-up, had excuses second-up, and third-up he broke behind the mobile,” Xiriha explained. “But we’ve got him right now, and we’ll look to race on-speed, ideally in front but it’s not the be-all and end-all. He’ll still be there at the business end.” Standout previous winners of the pacing cup include My High Expectations, Maori Law, Well Defined, and more recently, Sonny Brooke. Xiriha, who began his driving career in the 2023 season, is yet to break through for his first country cup victory. “If I was to win the cup, it’d be a great thrill,” he said. “The cups and bigger races are the next things to tick off on my bucket list.” In addition to his cup drives, Xiriha will also be partnering with Smilensaycheese and Mac Shadow in earlier races on Sunday night. The Wangaratta Cup meeting promises to be a fantastic family event, with free entry, takeaway food, an ice cream and coffee van, on-track entertainment featuring DJ Steve Bowen, and face painting. Gates open at 5pm, with the first race at 6.39pm.
