The complexion of the 2025 Southern Cross Equipment Group Kapunda Pacing Cup (2610m) changed completely over the final stages with irritable mare Honeybun arriving to score a photo finish win.
Trained by the partnership of Jill Neilson and Katie Wilson, Honeybun ($17) won by a half head from Springfield Affair ($15) with Lord Zarias ($5.50) a neck away third.
Turning for home, Hezrockinroyalty ($4.80), which had led from gate release looked the one to beat with Bellezza Nera ($2.15 fav) trying to launch a challenge three wide.
Halfway up the Kapunda straight, the swoopers started to emerge.
Honeybun, with Bernadette Page driving, was coming quick with Springfield Affair matching her charge.
Meanwhile, Mark Norman on Lord Zarias, had oped to come from last along the fence and he took an opening to charge through and the three placegetters swamped the leaders.
Neither trainer was complimentary about Honeybun’s personality.
“She can be hard to gear up and not all that friendly,” Neilson said.
Wilson said Honeybun could be quite nasty, but the trainers tolerated her because of her ability.
The Kapunda Cup was the six-year-old mare’s 16th win and took her stakes to just over $98,000.
Honeybun rated 1:58.7 to break Assassinator’s track record of 1:59.8 which was set when he won the 2023 Cup.
Page, 24, one of the state’s leading concession drivers, no doubt loves the Kapunda track.
Last year, she took out the 2024 Kapunda Trotters Cup on My Bad Habits, and this year won the Pacing Cup on Honeybun, the two biggest wins of her career.
Honeybun is likely to line up at Globe Derby Park on Saturday in the $20,000 Strathalbyn Pacing Cup (2230m) in an attempt to add to her cups collection.
There was a hometown double at the Kapunda meeting for trainer Peta Brown.
Brown, who trains at Bagot Well, just outside of the township, produced a longshot double with Changeup and Enable Me.
One stable supporter backed their judgement with a small up bet on the pair.
Husband Terry drove a perfect race to land Changeup ($41) a six-metre winner of the Envirocopper & JT Johnson & Sons Pace (1800m) then son Nicholas partnered Enable Me ($17 into $9) which had three metres to spare in winning the Ladbrokes Odds Surge Pace (1800m).
“It was fantastic to have a double at our local Cup meeting,” Terry Brown said.
“Changeup is a very good mare when right, but she has had her issues.
“We haven’t been able to work her properly so Peta said she might be in need of the run.
“But she travelled beautifully and let down when I asked her for an effort.
“Hopefully we can keep her sound as there is no doubt she is capable of winning better races.”
Enable Me had good backing and came away quickly in his race from gate three but Nick Brown had to settle outside the lead with Gives Us A Wink ($3.80 fav) coming away well from barrier two to hold the front.
Brown kept the pressure on the leader and urged Enable Me to go clear coming off the back grabbing a 10-metre break on his rivals.
Although getting tired close to home, the six-year-old held on to win well.
Another impressive winner was lightly-raced four-year-old Clarenden Tribute ($1.50 fav) which led throughout in the Competitive Roofe Restoration & Mantina Quarries Pace (1800m).
Driven by Jason Kittel, 21, Clarenden Tribute was bred and is owned by Claire Goble from Wasleys.
Kittel works for Goble and when the trainer was injured and needed a hip replacement, had the opportunity to take over the gelding and the four-year-old is now trained his father Symon at Angle Vale.
