TURF
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PITT Street made a detour to Walcha two years ago to win the Walcha Cup and interrupted some Brisbane runs to annex the Tamworth Cup yesterday in a run that might also take in next month’s Scone Cup.
The Kris Lees-trained gelding had to survive a protest from third-placed I’m In The Money to win the $80,000 Carlton Mid Tamworth Cup (1400m).
And third-placed I’m In The Money had to survive a protest from sixth placed Oh My Papa as well in a sensational finish to the 2014 feature race.
For Pitt Street’s nervous owners it was a relief.
He is raced by a large syndicate of owners, organised by Joe O’Neill through his Prime Thoroughbreds.
Peter Ross is one of the those owners with a 10th share in a gelding who has now won seven of his 37 starts for more than $300,000 in prize money.
He was in Walcha for his 2013 Cup win and Ross was cheering again yesterday.
He’s been a very good for us all,” he said of the syndicate.
“He’s done really well but is a better horse on top of the ground. This is the first time he’s struck a good track for a while and he’s had to carry big weights too. He had 59 at Randwick the other day but only had 54kg today.”
That was a luxury.
Dale Spriggs also produced one of his best rides to stalk the leaders and pounce in the straight.
He travelled well, ” Spriggs told connections.
He also celebrated his own little milestone too.
“It’s my first Tamworth Cup,” he said.
“I’ve won just about every other country race but this one.”
It might also open the door to winning a Scone Cup as well.
Peter Ross said the 1600m of the Scone Cup might be his next mission in the middle of next month.
“It might be just that little bit too far for him, the last 50m might be a bit of a worry.”
Yesterday’s Tamworth Cup was almost a huge double for Scone gelding Knot Out.
The little horse had blown past his opposition to win the recent Tamworth Cup prelude and unleashed another powerful finishing burst that went within a nose of winning the two Tamworth races.
I’m In the Money, after winning last year’s Merriwa Cup, stepped up for former Muswellbrook trainer Jeff Englebrecht and was just a head of Knot Out.
The mare’s connections also failed in the stewards’ room when their protest was dismissed.
Fourth-placed Double Halo and fifth-placed Jefferson Park were both gallant in close-up defeat.
“Jefferson Park was courageous,” his trainer Craig Martin said.
“Those two trips to Brisbane might have taken it out of him.”