The Ararat Cup has been whisked back to Pakenham after Cable Dancer made it back-to-back wins in an outstanding edition of the 2200-metre feature. 
The Charlotte Littlefield-trained seven-year-old hadn’t won in nine starts since last year’s victory, but started a $3.30 favourite and arrived just in time to nose out Matty Williams’s galloper Unseen Ruler ($13) in a grandstand finish in front of a bumper crowd. 
Aftermath ($3.50) for Horsham trainer Paul Preusker looked the winner in the home straight when jockey Linda Meech stole a break on the field, before Nothingelsematters ($9.50) loomed for trainer Nikki Burke at the 200-metre marker. 
Unseen Ruler and Cable Dancer joined in at the 100-metre mark and there were four across the track in the closing stages, before jockey Declan Bates willed his mount to the line for a narrow victory. 
It was a seventh win from 45 starts for the gelded son of Cable Dancer, who edged his prizemoney north of $300,000.
Roses sweet for Jericho
Ararat hosted a qualifying race for the Jericho Cup on Sunday, won with authority by Three Reel Roses ($4.80) for Ballarat trainer Henry Dwyer. 
The five-year-old mare sat at the rear for much of the 4000-metre highweight contest, rider Darryl Horner junior circling the field approaching the home bend and cruising by his rivals in the home straight for a soft 2¼-length win. 
The daughter of Highland Reel had appeared unlucky the start prior at Swan Hill when encountering traffic problems in the home straight but stayed right out of trouble on Sunday, relishing the staying trip and looking every bit a contender in the 4600-metre Jericho Cup at Warrnambool on November 29. 
Shoutout to rider Paul Hamblin, who battled for the majority of the race after his saddle slipped on Eye For An Eye ($7.50) after just 300 metres. One would’ve forgiven him for calling it a day early!
On to Donald
The country-cups party bus rolls on this weekend, this time to Royal Donald for an excellent Sunday card. 
The $80,000 feature race has been won by Horsham jockey Dean Yendall four times in the past 11 years, and he’ll be looking to increase that count aboard El James for Warrnambool trainer Symon Wilde. 
The pair combined to take home the cup in 2022 with Glassey Miss, though you’d suspect this will be a tough ask for Wilde’s six-year-old, who will be first up from a spell in the 1620-metre event.