This weekend sees a welcome return to Saturday racing in the Wimmera with Stawell hosting the Gift Hotel Christmas raceday. 
In the first leg of Stawell’s summer treble — the other meetings held on January 7 and February 22 — the club will embrace the return of patrons to the track in a party atmosphere. 
The racing will be front and centre, of course, with full fields to do battle on a typically competitive card at the foot of the Grampians. 
In-form local trainer Andrew Bobbin, striking at an impressive 20 per cent winners-to-runners in the past two months, will look to extend his good run of form on his home track, but is realistic about his stable’s chances. 
“There’s no real standouts from my lot on Saturday,” he said.  “Fighting Sweet will compete in the 2000-metre 0-58 race. She’s in pretty good form, will look to roll forward and sit on speed, which can be an advantage here at Stawell. She should be in it for a long way.
“Wynsome Maid might be a chance at a price. She’ll run at the 1300 metres and it’s the weakest race she’s struck in a while. She’s probably a good each-way chance”.
Club manager Rachael Samsonenko says there’s a good feel around the place in the lead-up to raceday. 
“People are pumped. We’ve got Christmas parties booked, general bookings are going well, people are coming from everywhere. We can’t wait,” she said. “There’s some new infrastructure and the track looks great.”
Tickets and umbrella packages are available for purchase online, while some general admission passes can be bought at the gate.
A wrap for the ’Rat
Having hosted several huge sets of jumpouts and a number of racedays in recent months, the Ararat Turf Club will enjoy a well deserved rest following this week’s Tuesday meeting. 
Track staff have done a wonderful job throughout spring, presenting a surface that has seen hundreds of runners gallop on the course proper and produced many subsequent winners. 
They will no doubt enjoy a lemonade or two over the Christmas period and have the track ready for their next raceday, scheduled for Thursday January 13.