A LATE surge from Greg Ryan has helped propel Phuket to a memorable victory in the Whiskey Mountain Boys Country Music Cup on Thursday.
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The Allan Denham trained five-year-old proved too strong on the home straight for Professor Marx in second and De La Hoya in third.
The feature win was Denham’s second for the day after Hyper took out the day’s second race.
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Ridden by Ryan, Phuket began sluggishly before rising to the task and securing the win.
“I think the 1200 metre distance really suited him,” Ryan said.
“He began a little sluggishly out of the gates and it took him a little while to get going.
“Once he did though, he found a nice spot.”
Ryan praised the five-year-old gelding’s finishing ability saying “it was the difference in the end”.
“He was racing a lot fresher today [Thursday],” he said.
“Professor Marx really quickened up at the 400 metre mark and he lifted.
“From there he proved too strong at the finish.”
While the Central Coast based Denham took out the day’s feature event, local trainers also had their time in the sun.
Craig Martin’s Cricklewood continued its early season form to claim a victory in race six.
Following its Wallabadah Cup victory on New Year’s Day, the gelding proved too strong for other Tamworth hopes Bianbitten (Troy O’Neile) and Michelle Fleming’s St Luke in third.
Martin said a surge from jockey Andrew Gibson at the final turn helped secure victory.
“I only nominated him because the nominations were skinny,” he said.
“He has been a bit unlucky too this horse, misses the start.
“I told Gibbo [Andrew Gibson] to try and have him in the first half of the race if he could he’d be a chance.
“At Tuncurry last start he missed the start and ran on for second.”
Martin said he would now consider racing Cricklewood over a longer distance.
“I always thought he’d run 2000m,” he said.
“Maybe he can.
“He’s fit and good order.
“I think we will wait and see on that one though, who knows.”
Billy Jupp
Billy is a Senior Livestock Journalist for the Queensland Country Life based in Toowoomba. He has worked for a variety of different ACM mastheads during the past five years including the Namoi Valley Independent, Northern Daily Leader and The Land.
Billy is a Senior Livestock Journalist for the Queensland Country Life based in Toowoomba. He has worked for a variety of different ACM mastheads during the past five years including the Namoi Valley Independent, Northern Daily Leader and The Land.
