Horse Racing
3 September, 2024
Staunch takes out Sheep Hills Cup
Mornington trained Staunch, ridden by Teo Nugent, won the best365 Sheep Hills Cup over 2015 metres in windy conditions at Warracknabeal racecourse on Saturday.
Despite the windy and unfriendly weather conditions, patrons attending the meeting enjoyed the well appointed all weather facilities.
The six year old gelding is trained by Matt Laurie who has now won multiple feature Cups at the course. In last years Emmetts Warracknabeal Cup, Toogoodfortoorak was successful for the stable.
Nugent rode to the conditions of the day well as he obtained cover into a head wind in the back straight with Hoodys Horse leading and remaining behind second placed and favourite Slate.
Entering the straight, Staunch moved out three wide to challenge for the lead and in a driving finish overpowered the favourite Slate in the last 50 metres. Third was the Paul Preusker trained Stand Up For Me.
Multiple wins on the program were riding doubles to Tayla Childs and Horsham based Christine Puls. Christine’s double was for her long standing supporters in training duo Brian and Ashley McKnight from Maldon.
Christine’s longevity in the racing industry is remarkable as she was part of a trio of jockeys in July 1994 who, at the Warracknabeal racecourse, rode the first seven winners on the nine-race card when female jockeys were a rare commodity.
The other two jockeys were the famous Payne sisters Therese and Maree.
The Warrack Motel Maiden race two produced a dominant winner in Tochka starting a hot $1.80 favourite. The first starter bounced out from the inside barrier and was rated in front by one of the best jockeys in Linda Meech to do so and lead for the entire race to win by 1.75 lengths.
Trainer Tony McEvoy from Ballarat was on hand and after the race spoke with the large contingent of My Racehorse owners on course saying more wins should be in store for this speedy filly.
In race three, Kyneton trainer Aftab Shaikh was overjoyed with his first winner in Kilmister. Aftab, originally from India, has been training for two years.
In the Bently Group 0-58 Handicap the win of Fileeta, training by Paul Koumis of Geelong, provided one of the part owners with arare occurence.
Mark Clonan, who originally came from this district, revealed that his father John was on the committee at that last race meeing at the Sheep Hills rcecourse on February 12, 1966.
Industry participants are awaiting on the final details of the TABs participation as an on course tote facility. At present, the current situation and funding will be in place until November 30.
After that date clubs may have to pay for the service but at present details are vague and the TAB staff on Saturday said they were being kept in the dark.
Warracknabeal’s next scheduled meeting is the Cup meeting at Easter next year.