GREG Ryan piloted his fourth winner of the day as Uncle Sugar sweetened his campaign for a second Cowra Cup with a dominating win in Saturday’s $22,000 Mannion Drilling/Ultrafleet Christmas Cup (1600m) at Gunnedah.
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Uncle Sugar, a nine-year-old bay gelding son of Danroad has won eight of his 65 starts.
He was the benefactor of another supreme ride from Greg Ryan when the Dubbo jockey took him to the front around 1100m out.
He then outstayed his opposition, beating Raining On Sunday and Western Parade (who missed the jumps by a couple of lengths) into the minor placings.
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Tara and Philippe Vigouroux prepared Uncle Sugar at Hawkesbury, and they made the five hour trip worthwhile.
“He had to do a little bit to get across but he kept coming,” Ryan said.
“He travelled well and was very tough at the finish.”
Philippe Vigouroux didn’t want to race at Gunnedah because he thought it was too far to travel.
“He made [us] come,” Philippe Vigouroux said pointing to part-owner Ian Marscham.
Marscham lives at Wahroonga, and was up at 4.30am to meet Philippe and Uncle Sugar at 5.30am to make the five hour trip to Gunnedah.
“We’re staying the night,” Marscham said.
“I’m the only owner here.”
There are 18 owners in the syndicate, which bought the horse for $10,000 two years ago.
“That’s his third win for us,” Marscham said.
“He won the Cowra Cup for us two years ago and ran second in it this year.
“Greg Rode him too when he won the cup.
“We’re going back in January to try and win it again, so this was an important lead up run for him. The 1600m was perfect.
“We’ll go to Wagga now on Christmas Eve and then to Cowra.”
He said Uncle Sugar has given him and his fellow “battlers’ a lot of fun in his two years and hopes the return to winning form can lead to some more success at Wagga and then Cowra.
