WARRNAMBOOL trainer, Symon Wilde, dominated Sunday’s Foodworks Casterton Cup meeting with a treble including an all the way feature win with Elvison in the $100,000 Pullen & Co/Bonney Energy Two Rivers Steeplechase over 3800 metres.
In front of an enthusiastic crowd, Wilde continued good run of form with a jumping double, followed by a flat win, all in consecutive races.
But it was the win of Elvison, ridden by former star New Zealand rider Aaron Kuru that had the big crowd cheering.
After a close-up second at the recent Warrnambool carnival, Kuru didn’t hesitate in leading and in a dashing display, proved far too good for his rivals winning by an impressive 25 lengths.
A previous winner at the track last season, his knowledge of the course stood out as he cleared away from rivals to vindicate his $1.75 starting price with corporate bookmakers.
Historic and Coleridge filled the placings but were no match for the winner.
In the previous race, Count Zero proved his Warrnambool win was no fluke, toughing out another success in the Shojun Concrete Open Hurdle over 3480m for stable rider Ronan Short.
The 2020 Jericho Cup winner is carving out an impressive resume over the jumps and looks a readymade Grand Annual runner in time.
He defeated a gallant Serenade the Stars who is racing very well over the jumps this season.
Wilde’s third leg of the treble was with Coastal Town when winning the Yarram Park Maiden Plate over 1200m ridden by Arron Lynch.
Paul Preusker and stable rider, Christine Puls, combined with Brawl to cause a mini upset in the Casterton Foodworks Cup.
Starting at $9, the lightly raced son of Atomic ran down odds-on favourite Lunatic Fringe to score his fourth career win.
Lunatic Fringe trained by Tom Dabernig looked all over a winner when the field straightened for home, before Puls unleashed her charge in the last 100m.
The Preusker and Puls combination have been synonymous around country Victorian tracks for years, this victory being one of their biggest.
The South Australian border-hoppers cashed in late in the meeting.
Veteran trainer, Michael O’Leary, rarely misses out when he produces a runner at these Cup meetings, Ned And Power vindicating that with a strong win as favourite in the McClure Earthmoving 0-58 Handicap over 2000m.
Not to be outdone, Jamie Opperman saddled up Thanasi to win the final race, the Nutrien Ag Solutions Casterton BM64 Handicap over 1400m.
Both horses were ridden by talented young rider Jacob Opperman.
Renowned jump’s trainers Patrick Payne and Eric Musgrove provided the Maiden Hurdle winners with Hey Happy and Onset, while Lindsey Smith won the Muntham BM70 Handicap with Our Wind Spirit, on a day that ‘celebrated’ 50 years since the infamous Royal School and Regal Vista horse swapping rort.
