STEPHEN Gleeson was worried Pippi’s Pride might not run out a strong metric mile yesterday but the Muswellbrook trainer need not have worried as in-form Leanne Henry produced a perfect ride to net her third Gunnedah Cup at Riverside yesterday.
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Henry, who had won on mighty Akwazoff and then Sandrio, had Gleeson’s recent Merriwa Cup winner travelling nicely all the way in the $25,000 Sky Gold Pryde’s EasiFeed Gunnedah Cup (1600m) and the four-year-old gelding did the rest to beat gallant Cocktail Time by a length with Court Order another half length away third.
Henry said Pippi’s Pride was “always travelling well”.
“We were worried he wouldn’t get a strong mile but he relaxed well,” she said.
“He got to the line well.
“It’s good to win a Cup for Steve and Jimmy (Steve’s father Jim Gleeson) too.
“They have been great supporters for me.
“I ride their horses in work and they give me good rides.”
She said Pippi’s Pride had been something of “a big baby, a slow learner”.
Stephen Gleeson celebrated his first Gunnedah Cup win yesterday, about 40 minutes after he’d won his first Lightning with Don’t Tease Me. (see story page 18)
“A great double,” he beamed.
“It’s good to win a race any time, let alone a double and then to make it the feature double as well – the Lightning and Cup – is fantastic.”
He agreed he was worried Pippi’s Pride might not run out a strong mile.
“He won nicely at Merriwa but that was over 1350m and I thought he was a bit suspect at the 1600m.
“But he settled so well and finished it off nicely.”
He said it was an unusual feature double, with both Pippi’s Pride and Don’t Tease Me having won their last three races .
“And both are by Beautiful Crown,” he said.
“I’ve had a fair bit of luck with Beautiful Crowns.
“Old Top Crown won 14 races for us.”
Pippi’s Pride was also just the second starter in the Gunnedah Cup for Gleeson.
“I had Pants Man in it one year but did no good,” he recalled.
