Presenters: Gareth and Kylie
Part 1. Getting to know the place
Gareth and Kylie had barely arrived back in Australia from the UK when another message landed.
Tuncurry. Friday. Gold Cup.
Gareth looked at the suitcases.
“Do we actually unpack?”
Kylie thought about it.
“Probably not.”
And just like that, their whirlwind Australian visit had begun.
By the time they reached the Mid North Coast, Kylie had already decided she liked Tuncurry. It isn’t difficult.
Tuncurry and Forster sit opposite one another across the beautiful waters of Wallis Lake, finally joined by bridge in 1959 after generations had relied on boats and punts to cross between them.
But people had been living beside and caring for these waters for thousands of years before either town existed. The surrounding country has deep Aboriginal connections, and even the name Tuncurry is generally traced to an Aboriginal expression meaning “plenty of fish” or “plenty of big fish.”
Gareth looked across Wallis Lake.
“That’s one town name that still makes sense.”
He wasn’t wrong.
Timber, boats and John Wright
The European settlement of Tuncurry really began taking shape in the 1870s with John Wright, whose name remains firmly attached to the town.
Timber was the early industry, but Wright saw another opportunity.
He built ships.
His waterfront shipyard operated for decades, turning local timber into vessels that traveled well beyond this little corner of the Mid North Coast. Today, John Wright Park occupies part of that historic waterfront.
Kylie and Gareth wandered down for a look.
Water had shaped almost everything here.
It provided food, carried timber, launched ships and separated two growing towns until the bridge finally connected Tuncurry and Forster.
But there was one thing Gareth hadn’t found yet.
“Where’s the racecourse?”
Building one from scratch
Compared with many of the country tracks we’ve visited, Tuncurry’s racing story is remarkably young.
In 1980, locals Norm Roberts, John Darcy and Don Creighton got together with an ambitious idea.
They wanted Tuncurry-Forster to have its own racecourse.
There was just one small problem.
They didn’t have one.
It took several years simply to find suitable land. Then came years of fundraising, planning and volunteer labour as locals gradually turned that idea into a functioning racecourse.
The club finally received its racing licence in 2008.
And in January 2009, almost three decades after those first discussions, the horses finally raced at Tuncurry.
Around 6,500 people reportedly turned up.
Gareth looked across the course.
“So they spent nearly thirty years trying to get here?”
Pretty much.
He nodded.
“Then I reckon they deserved a decent crowd.”
Now it’s Cup time
What began as an idea between a few determined locals is now an established country racing venue, and its September Gold Cup meeting has become one of the highlights of the year.
There’s even a spring-fed lake within the racecourse grounds, providing an invaluable water supply for maintaining the track.
Another little reminder that, in Tuncurry, water is never very far from the story.
And this Friday, 11 September 2026, the gates open again.
The HAHN Gold Cup is coming.
Gareth looked at Kylie.
“So we’ve flown back from England, driven up the coast, learned about timber, ships and a racecourse that took nearly thirty years to build…”
“Yes.”
“And now we finally get to go to the races?”
Kylie smiled.
“That’s the idea.”
There was still time for a wander beside Wallis Lake, perhaps an oyster or two, and certainly enough time to enjoy being home.
But Gareth had learned one thing about traveling with Kylie and working for Race Day Co.
He probably shouldn’t unpack completely.
There was always another town waiting.
For now, though, there was only one destination.
Tuncurry-Forster Jockey Club.
Friday, 11 September 2026.
The HAHN Gold Cup.
TUNCURRY GOLD CUP 2026
Plenty of Fish, and a Racecourse Built from a Dream
The HAHN Tuncurry Gold Cup
PART 2 – CUP DAY PREVIEW
Cup morning has arrived in Tuncurry.
Gareth and Kylie are up early, coffee on the table, form guide open and Wallis Lake providing a rather pleasant backdrop to a morning’s work.
Then Gareth’s phone buzzes.
It’s Kenny.
Morning guys. I’ve had a look through the Cup
It’s A Knockout comes into this after a solid run in stronger company and looks one of the obvious chances.
Montpellier is interesting. There were excuses at Randwick last time and if he produces his better form, he’s right in this.
Zouna is another who can improve on his latest run, while Engine Room looks capable of running a good race at decent odds.It’s a nice open Cup.
I wouldn’t be getting too clever.
Kenny
Kylie looked across at Gareth.
“Does don’t get too clever mean he’s not giving us a winner?”
Gareth took another sip of coffee.
“I think it means if we lose, Kenny has already covered himself.”
Fair enough.
A genuinely open Cup
The HAHN Gold Cup over 1600 metres shapes as an interesting race, with several runners bringing different form lines into Tuncurry.
It’s A Knockout deserves respect after competing in stronger company and looks capable of making an impact.
Montpellier is one we’ll be watching closely. His latest Randwick run may be better than it appears on paper, and a return to his better form would put him firmly in the finish.
Zouna also comes through Randwick form and has the ability to bounce back, while Engine Room appeals as an interesting runner stepping up in distance.
There are other chances, of course, and that’s exactly why this looks a good country Cup.
No grand declarations from Race Day Co.
No certainty.
Just a competitive field, a few horses worth watching and one very important question still unanswered.
Who wins the 2026 Tuncurry HAHN Gold Cup?
We’ll know soon enough.
For now, Gareth and Kylie have finished the form.
The coffee cups are empty.
Time to head to the track. 🏇
The HAHN Tuncurry Gold Cup
PART 3 – Race Results and Review
Dubai Warrior Finds a Way in a Messy Mile
A patient ride from Ashley Morgan and a timely return to 1600 metres carried Dubai Warrior to victory in the 2026 Professionals Forster TFJC Hahn Gold Cup at Tuncurry.
The Matthew Smith-trained five-year-old defeated King Jerry, with Pier Pressure holding third and Montpellier completing the first four on a Good 3 track.
The race did not unfold neatly for the winner. Dubai Warrior initially found a useful position behind the leading group, but Morgan’s options began disappearing when the horse immediately ahead of him weakened and came back through the field.
With Archie McColm and It’s A Knockout caught three-wide, Morgan found cover behind them and waited for his opportunity. He then worked underneath runners, brought Dubai Warrior into clear air and produced him for one determined final effort.
King Jerry offered a serious challenge, while the leader Pier Pressure continued to fight, but Dubai Warrior was strongest when it mattered and finished the difficult assignment off courageously.
From the Media Scrum
Race Day Co’s take on what the winning connections had to say
Stable representative Paul Rowe admitted there had been a moment of concern before the race.
Dubai Warrior can become worked up on race day, and he had begun sweating in the mounting yard. Rowe explained that this was not unusual for the horse, although it was never something the stable particularly liked seeing.
What mattered was that Dubai Warrior remained bright, healthy and ready to compete.
Rowe also credited the condition of Matthew Smith’s stable, describing the team’s horses as fit, hard and racing well. That fitness proved important when Dubai Warrior had to overcome a race that did not unfold in his favour and then fight strongly through the line
Morgan’s Call Pays Off
Ashley Morgan described the Cup as “a very messy race,” with the weakening runner ahead of him repeatedly coming back into his path.
Despite those difficulties, Morgan always felt Dubai Warrior had something left to offer. His strongest observation came after the race:
“I’ve been begging the lads to drop him back to a mile… When they listen, it works.”
Morgan believed Dubai Warrior had been difficult to contain over 1900 metres. Back at the mile, the horse could use that travelling speed without wasting energy over the longer journey.
It proved the decisive call.
Race Day Co’s Take
This was not a victory created by a perfect run through the race. It was earned through fitness, patience and a jockey who understood exactly what distance his horse needed.
Dubai Warrior became warm before the start, encountered traffic during the race and still found enough when the Cup was there to be won.
For Ashley Morgan, it was another Country Cup success following his Muswellbrook Gold Cup victory aboard Magnatear—and another reminder that when a jockey knows what a horse is asking for, it can pay to listen.
Tuncurry Cup 2026 Final Results
Dubai Warrior earned Big Dance eligibility through the 2026 Tuncurry Gold Cup.
Follow the 2026 Big Dance field, qualifiers and ballot picture on Race Day Co’s
Road to Randwick.