The headlines last Friday in The Young Witness proved to be correct when top weight, Zarreig took the Young Hotel, South West Credit Union Young Cup back to Leeton.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Trained by Peter Clancy and ridden the perfect race by in-form jockey John Kissick, the six-year-old gelding by Zariz came with a well-timed run to defeat the early leader Easistgameintown ridden by Simon Miller by three quarters of a length with equal favourite Opoho ridden by Matthew Cahill a similar distance away in third place.
Always a race of high excitement following some good bets laid on the three runners before race time, the pace was on from the start with the rider of Easiestgameintown going to the lead soon after the start and setting a solid pace.
Overall time for the 1600 metre journey was 1:35.3 which was 1.3 seconds outside the track record set by Bay Tiger back in 1998.
The win by the Clancy-owned galloper was almost half a second outside the class record set by the 2013 winner Mywarwishuponastart on a similar racing surface.
Racing opened on a fine, sunny day with just a hint of a cool breeze, a capacity field of 10 runners facing the starter for the 1000 metre opening event.
Equal favourite Plus One was sent a $3 chance for trainer John Marzol and almost got the cash before the Cowra-trained Koorawatha Jet arrived on the scene under hard riding from Matthew Cahill.
Starting at $9 the Volcanic Prince five-year-old produced a fast finishing burst to win by three quarters of a length, just 1.0 seconds outside the track record of 54.58 set by Bouffon back in 1999.
Trainer John Marzol unfortunately had to be content with second money with Plus One while local owner Craig Hardy and his Wagga trainer Chris Heywood nearly caused the upset of the day when Jetsetting Dolly ran an eye-catching third for jockey Nick Heywood.
In the opening race, the big plunge on the Queanbeyan galloper came unstuck for trainer Joe Cleary, the galloper backed in from $6 to around $2.80 and finishing well back.
The second race of the afternoon resulted in a dead heat for the minor placings, Colly Haze, a $2.80 beaten favourite, and Scruffs Dream.
The winner though left nothing in doubt with an impressive win.
Trained at Forbes by Dennis Bush, Wordly Wise, starting at $6 and ridden by Matthew Cahill, giving him his winner for the day, was well clear in the straight, winning by more than a length over the dead heaters with Burn Sugar finishing in fourth place.
Race three proved to be an open betting race with numerous runners under double figures.
Victory went to the Merv Rumble trained seven-year-old gelding Layne ridden by Tony Cavallo.
Sent out a $6 chance, the winner now of seven races proved a little too classy for Zarlu ridden by Brad Clark whilst Racers N Chasers for Albury trainer Jodie Bohr finished third some distance from the winner.
Again the winner stopped the clock just short of the current track record reflecting the excellent racing surface of the Young track once again.
Friday night’s dinner special guest Rebeka Prest showed she has the class to continue her entry into the professional ranks with two polished rides, the first on the top weight Devious Fella for Griffith trainer and long time supporter of the Young club, Gino D’Altoro.
Showing great strength and determination, Rebeka drove Devious Fella hard to the line over the concluding stages to defeat Cierto Segura and Dane Sweeper in a close finish, the margin being half a neck by three quarters with Aye Calypso finishing fourth in a fantastic race four.
Again, those near the top of the weights shone through in race five when second favourite Cabramurra Lad almost caused a dead heat when the judge declared the Gundagai-trained galloper the winner by a short half head over Changing Notes and Rock My Fuji.
Ridden by Bryan Murphy, the $3.50 favourite won his second race in 13 starts for David Blundell and Michelle Russell and his owner, C.C. Findlay.
Wagga trainer Chris Heywood put himself one win closer to the premiership when Corsellette out gunned the opposition in race six, the 1300 metre maiden plate.
Queanbeyan trainer Joe Cleary saddled up the race favourite Kismet in this and for the second time, the money went begging, Kismet finishing unplaced behind a very convincing winner.
Another Queanbeyan trainer in Tom Wilson provided the chaser in Little Miss Chelsy but under hard riding from her jockey Maddison Wright, the bird had flown and Rebeka made it two good wins for the day.
The Young Turf Club would like to thank all those sponsors who again supported the Young Cup meeting especially:
Young Hotel - Garry and Maree, South West Slopes Credit Union - Steve and the team, Poppas Fudge Factory - Vicky and Kevin, Donges Supa IGA - Robert and Wendy, KMWL Forbes - especially Scott Foster, Grove Estate - Brian and Sue, South West Tractors - Austin and Jim, Hilltops Equine Centre - Jantien and family, Elevation Restaurant - Peter and David, and John North, Bowness Stud - Paul Dingwall, and Caithness Stud.
The Loft - Helen Walker, Richard Mellish Insurance Services, Bruces Mensland -Bruce Manglstorf, Quarry-mans Stud - Craig and Sue Hardy and Family, K.P.Carmody & Co - Keith, Helen and the team, Austarlian Hotel - Belinda and staff, Young Smash Repairs - Paul Blake and staff, Anytime Fitness and staff, The Young Witness, Radio 2LF, 2YYY, Rocky FM, Riding for The Disabled Young, Loaders Bus Service - Young and Grenfell, Peter Sheahan, Michael Keir, and Lions Club Young.
And all those many volunteers who worked tirelessly in days leading up to the big day who made this annual event something we can all be proud of.