Track features in film

By Bridget Cook
IT was lights, camera, action at Cranbourne Training Complex on Monday as the track was transformed into Ireland’s most renowned thoroughbred race track, The Curragh.
The complex was a hive of activity for the filming of a scene for the feature film, The Cup.
Local jockeys were a part of the film, which saw them re-enact the Irish St Leger when Vinnie Roe beat Pugin, both qualify them for the 2002 Melbourne Cup.
The Cup is based on the story of Damien Oliver and his win on Media Puzzle in the 2002 Melbourne Cup.
Damien’s brother died in a track accident just five days before the cup. His father also died the same way 27 years before that.
Film director, writer and producer Simon Wincer said the film displayed the story of whether Damien would ride the Irish horse Media Puzzle in the cup following the tragedy.
“Damien was entered in 12 other races before the cup, and didn’t place any better than fourth … people were saying he had taken on too much after the tragedy,” Mr Wincer said. “He then came out and won the Melbourne Cup … he blew a kiss to the heavens up to his brother when he won.”
Mr Wincer said he chose to write the story as it was very moving.
“It’s a great story of human triumph over adversity,” Mr Wincer said. “It’s very uplifting and very powerful.”
He said the movie was also very much about Australian culture.
“It’s very much about us and our single biggest event, the Melbourne Cup,” he said. “It’s a wonderful setting, very Australian and says a lot about Australian culture.”
Mr Wincer said it had all the elements of a great film. “Great movies are based on great stories and this is truly a great story,” he said.
The scene shot at Cranbourne Training Centre will feature in the early stages of the film, and shows one of the influential races in the lead up to the cup.
Mr Wincer said the Cranbourne track was the perfect cover for The Curragh.“The track is almost identical, well for the shots I need it was perfect,” he said.
The film, The Cup, will be released around Easter next year by Village Roadshow.