Sport
Jockey Wendy Peel celebrates second successive Louth win Jockey Wendy Peel has won the last two event, the reason for the four year gap being Rodney Robb from Nyngan was the trainer Louth Cups on Austin and Valadyium how- the planned annual Louth meetings were aban- of the 2019 winner Austin while Valadyium ever those wins have been four years apart. doned in 2020, 2021 and 2022 due to either the won the 2023 Cup for Dubbo trainer Connie No, the Louth Cup is not an Olympic Games COVID pandemic or wet weather. Greig. The much anticipated return to racing at the iconic outback meeting attracted a probable record crowd of around 5,000 on Saturday and it was a thrilling finish to the 2,000 metres Nutrien Walsh Hughes-Don Le Lievre Memorial Louth Cup. Beg Me led around the home-turn from Costas and Valadyium and it then became a great battle down the straight between those three gallopers. Finishing slightly the better, Valadyium (Peel, $3.60 favourite) won by 3/4 length from Beg Me (Ken Dunbar, $4.40) with a short half head to Costas (Jake Barrett, $4.40). Peel then gave the Connie Greig trained Merdeka ($2.20 fav.) a nice run before winning the 1,700 metres Shindys Inn Benchmark 45 Handicap from the leader Planet Ex (Dunbar, $5) and Equilibrium (Paul Zerafa, $6). The first leg of a treble for Greig was Linden Tree ridden by Orange-based apprentice Will Stanley in the 1,200 metres Arrowfield Stud Benchmark 50 Handicap. Sons Of Bourke (Barrett, $2 fav.) looked the likely winner when dashing to the lead in the straight but was overhauled and beaten a short neck by Linden Tree (Will Stanley, $3.50) with over two lengths to the third-placed Lenny’s Lad (Chelsea Ings, $13). Stanley had a memorable day as he landed a treble, Bush Warrior, Tonatrix and In a very tight finish, Valadyium, ridden by Wendy Peel, won this year’s Louth Cup by winning Linden Tree. three-quarters of a length from Beg Me (Ken Dunbar) with Costas (Jake Barrett) a short Bush Warrior was beautifully presented in half head back in third place. ▪ Photo courtesy of Klae McGuinness Photography (More of the mounting yard by Wellington trainer DanKlae’s brilliant photos from Louth can be found on his Facebook page.) iel Stanley and raced up to look the goods in the 1,000 metres MacDonald & Co Wool Brokers Class 1 Handicap. Parked behind the leaders, Bush Warrior (Stanley, $4.20) sprinted to a one length win over Blueskin (Barrett, $2.20 fav.) and Pressita (Peel, $2.30). First up for Narromine trainer Terry Fulwood after 23 starts in Maiden company, Tonatrix gave most of the 17 bookmakers a losing result when winning the 1,400 metres Rice’s Back O’Bourke Splashe Cola Maiden Handicap. The well supported Tonatrix (Stanley, $6) tracked the leaders then took control to score by over two lengths from Vivalicious (Ings, $2.60) and Ready For Lift Off (Dunbar, $2.70 fav.) Dubbo jockey Ken Dunbar earned praise for an excellent ride on the Bryan Dixon Jnr Gilgandra trained Heza Wise Guy in the opening event, the 1,000 metres Port Of Bourke Hotel Maiden Plate. Continued Page 15.
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www.lukagroup.com.au Servicing Cobar for over 20 years Page 18 The Cobar Weekly Wednesday August 16, 2023
