Bathurst trainer Paul Theobald never doubted the ability of his six-year-old grey gelding Attilius in winning the 2018 Burrangong Picnic Cup and his judgement was spot on in the $5,500 feature race at the Toompang racecourse last Saturday afternoon.
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With Michael Gray in the saddle, gate five was certainly to his advantage in allowing the son of Murtajill to gain valuable racing room, taking up a forward position soon after the start.
Three Stooges made the pace early but was found wanting at the half way mark, Attilius finishing too strongly for a determined Diamond Charlie and Spinning Dawn.
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The Bathurst galloper has now won five races with seven minor placings for his owners who were more than delighted when the winners number went into the frame alongside a margin of one length in favour of the winner in a fast time of 1:23.17 for the 1400m feature race.
Racing opened with a Class B handicap over the sprint 800 metres and this went to the Cooma trained veteran of thirty eight starts Beaut Bopa ridden by Madison Wright for trainer George Boucher.
Beginning quickly from gate three, the gelding was able to lead soon after the start and was headed in defeating Time Of Her Life who had sat outside the leader and looked a big threat on the turn.
M’Lady Grace claimed the minor prize in an exciting opening to the day’s six race programme.
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With a scratching reducing the field to just four runners in race two, it was certainly going to be a battle of wits with tactics to play a major part in the final outcome.
With 1000m before them, the instructions from Wagga trainer Chris Heywood was to go forth and conquer with the four-year-old mare Serious Charge to jockey William Pearson.
His instructions were carried out to the letter and the Charge Forward gelding did the rest in defeating the Harden trained and much improved Jument Alezane for Robert Leitner and jockey Jodie Hughes and Centennial Price in an exciting and close finish.
The judges margin of a neck in favour of the winner was coupled with another creditable time overall of 57.69 sec.
The winning margin in favour of the winner was certainly more convincing in race three when County Limerick, ridden by Jodie Hughes shot straight to the front from gate four and showed no mercy in defeating Sparkling Glow, ridden by Rickie Blewitt with the Canberra trained Dundalk a distant third.
The winners time of 1:08.93 was again indicative of the fast track that had certainly benefited from some light rain over preceding days.
The winner is trained at Gundagai by Andrew Sheahan and has now recorded a total of three wins for his many owners. Madison Wright was not going to be left out and her ride on Muzzleburst was daring but rewarding for both trainer David Kelley and his owners who would find the trip back to Cooma much shorter that the long trip to the Cherry Capital.
The race time for the 1000m open class event was posted at 56.23 again a fantastic time for the journey.
The final race of the day Hayne Plane defeated Dream And Journey and Spies Shadow.
