EIGHT-year-old gelding Survived rewrote the history books with a brilliant five-length victory in yesterday’s $50,000 Scott Group of Companies Mount Gambier Gold Cup.
The Archie Alexander trained stayer thrashed his rivals over the final 200 metres to make it a hat-trick of local cup victories.
Top weight of 59 kilograms proved no problem for Survived when the challengers strived to gun him down at the dog-leg.
A solid second favourite at $4.60, Survived had the crowd cheering in the final stages as he kept his unbeaten status at Glenburnie intact.
No excuses for the beaten brigade with the favourite Bling Dynasty pipping Cheners for second spot.
Cup winning jockey Declan Bates made it a double for the day to share the honours with apprentice Rachel Clark and trainer Michael O’Leary.
Race 1
SEVENTY hours after the original starting time, the Mount Gambier Gold Cup day began on a soft-5 surface.
The heavily backed favourite Tiananmen ($2-$1.95) gave his backers hope until the dog-leg when Seduce Me Now surged to the lead to give Warrnambool trainer Ron Daniel a most welcome winner.
Although placed at the three previous runs at places such as Wentworth and Hay, Seduce Me Now was unwanted in betting ($5-$15), in a race which saw outsider fill the placings.
Race 2
APPRENTICE Raquel Clark wasted no time riding her first winner at Glenburnie.
Yesterday was her first look at the local track and a patient ride by her enabled Luvthejourney to land some sizable bets in winning the 1550-metre maiden.
“With the speed on early, I was able to cross and end up in a good position,” Clark said.
With a four-way battle up front, Luvthejourney ($6-$3.60) settled three lengths astern before producing a strong finish from the 400 metres.
Race 3
CUP day proved to be a bonus for racing club committeemen Don Pegler and Tom Ellis, moreso after the 1200 metre maiden.
They are part owners of the winner Catch Us, trained locally by Peter Hardacre, which improved on her first up fourth at Dunkeld recently.
Irish-born jockey Declan Bates had the mare mid field and it was appatent 600 metres out Catch Us would be a major player in the finish when she quickly moved into third spot.
Catch Us ($5-$4.20) was then able to thwart the late challenge from the well-backed Solaazem ($13-$10).
Race 4
MILLICENT trainer Ray Gilcrist produced a long-odds winner in the 1800 metre BM 60 Handicap when Queen’s Palace defied being run down over the final 400 metres.
The five-year-old mare had been out of the placings at two previous runs this campaign and was sent to the barrier as a 20/1 chance.
Race 5
ONLY centimetres separated the place getters in the 1200 metre BM 60 Handicap.
Again punters were on the back foot when Bunumburt got the close photograph at the gelding’s first run for six months.
It continued the great race for Mount Gambier trainers on cup day as Bunumburt is trained just up the road from Glenburnie by Bob and Kane Post.
The runner up Majestic Ridge only just failed at her first run for Horsham trainer Paul Preusker, while the well supported Squadron Leader ($4.80-$6-$4.20) filled the minor placing.
Race 6
HORSHAM trainer Paul Preusker is making a habit of winning Blue Lake Handicaps.
The seven-year-old gelding Doctor Care gave Preusker his third win in four years in the time-honoured event.
To the relief of punters, Doctor Care was the first favourite to win for the day, but did it the hard way.
Doctor Care looked beaten when clearly headed by the veteran galloper Evenmoreaction at the dog-leg, but kicked strongly for jockey Holly McKechnie.
In yet another close finish, Lachie’s A Star ($26-$10) nearly brought off a plunge by running his best race this campaign.
Race 7
A WIN in the metropolitan area seems only a matter of time for exciting young sprinter Save Me Ned, an easy winner of the Volcano Handicap.
In giving Michael O’Leary and Rachel Clark a double for the day, Save Me Ned again showed her affinity for the rain affected tracks.
“She will definitely get a mile, she was all over their heels at the 600 metres where I managed to get her into the clear,” Clark said upon dismounting.
Save Me Ned accelerated quickly over the final furlong to quickly dispose of her rivals.
Race 9
VICTORIAN trainer Dave Smith has the distinction of training the final winner before the track reconstruction starts today.
Halcyon produced his best effort for five runs in defeating Braidley in the 1400-metre Benchmark 60 Handicap.
Good money for Action In Rio ($6-$4) and The Early Crow ($15-$8.50) was lost when both were unplaced.
Cup racing continues in the Limestone Coast this Sunday with the Bordertown Cup meeting.
Black Bookers: Majestic Ridge, Save Me Ned.
