MUNTHAM MISSILE produced a dominant display to record her second Hamilton Cup on Saturday, adding to her 2020 triumph, as the Belinda O’Loughlin-trained veteran toyed with her four rivals.
In front of an exuberant racing crowd on a fine spring day, leading jockey, Dean Holland, took control of the race at the 600m mark, skipping away to set up an unassailable lead.
Runner-up, Pres De Toi, took ground late in the race, but notwithstanding Holland easing up on the winner to score by just under two lengths.
Starting a well-supported $2.70 second favourite, the cup success brought up her 11th career win and took her prizemoney in excess of $250,000.
Locally owned, it was fantastic to see her owners celebrating on course.
Pres De Toi for trainer Peter Chow started the even money favourite with Takumi for Aaron Purcell finishing a further seven lengths adrift at $15.
While the scratching of the classy Teewaters took away some of the intrigue, the result was a great fillip for the local racing community, trainer, and owners alike.
Bookman booked a spot at Flemington on Oaks Day after easily winning the $100,000 Callaghan Motors BM70 Handicap (MCCC Series Heat) over 1600m.
Along with runner-up, Accountability, the pair get an opportunity to race for prizemoney totalling $500,000 in the popular race for country trainers.
Andrew Noblet trains Bookman, while Accountability comes from the in-form Purcell yard.
On a day punters should have fared well, they were dealt a blow when longshot, Sabre Athena, won the Walker’s Earthworks 0-58 Handicap over 2200m.
The Mark Greig-trained mare, ridden by Harry Grace, broke her maiden at the longshot odds of $101.
Matthew Williams trained a double on a day that jockeys shared the spoils across the eight races.
William’s winners were Unseen Ruler and Champagne Witness, both knocking over their maiden tags.
The stable’s day was made even sweeter when Literary Magnate won a Group 3 race at Caulfield on Guineas Day.
Congratulations to the club on presenting a great family day, with a special mention to club curator, Darren Kolpin, and his team for the preparation of the track in what has been trying weather conditions.
Results
Race 1 Hamilton Flooring Xtra 3YO Maiden Plate 1100m - 1st Unseen Ruler (Will Gordon/Matthew Williams) $5; 2nd Fergyliscious (Dean Holland/Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr) $3.20f; 3rd Luv The Bool (Joe Bowditch/Symon Wilde) $6.
Race 2 Midfield Meats 4YO+ Maiden Plate 1100m - 1st Let’s Go Letty (Lewis German/Adrian McGregor) $4.40; 2nd Perfect Costa (Josh Richards/John Rowe) $21; 3rd Recap (Beau Mertens/Lindsey Smith) $3.40f.
Race 3 Taylor Motors Maiden Plate 1400m - 1st Champagne Witness (Beau Mertens/Matthew Williams) $3.10; 2nd Shriyaa (Jarrod Lorensini/Ciaron Maher & David Eustace) $9; 3rd Queens Club (Jack Hill/Quinton Scott) $31.
Race 4 Walker’s Earthworks 0-58 Handicap 2200m - 1st Sabre Athena (Harry Grace/Mark Greig) $101; 2nd The Rattlin’ Bog (Beau Mertens/Aaron Purcell) $6.50; 3rd There For You (Will Gordon/Dane Smith) $20.
Race 5 ACE Radio BM70 Handicap 1100m - 1st Overkill (Jack Hill/Denis Daffy) $12; 2nd Demando (Neil Farley/Andrew Noblet) $2.90f; 3rd Superhard (Will Gordon/Nathan Hobson) $26.
Race 6 Callaghan Motors BM70 Handicap (MCCC Series Heat) 1600m - 1st Bookman (Neil Farley/Andrew Noblet) $7; 2nd Accountability (Melissa Julius/Aaron Purcell) $31; 3rd Deel Blaster (Beau Mertens/Matt Laurie) $9.
Race 7 bet365 Hamilton Cup 2200m - 1st Muntham Missile (Dean Holland/Belinda O’Loughlin) $2.70; 2nd Pres De Toi (Josh Richards/Peter Chow) $2f; 3rd Takumi (Christine Puls/Aaron Purcell) $15.
Race 8 Fishers IGA Hamilton 0-58 Handicap 1400m - 1st Rivivy Kenz (Jarrod Lorensini/Dane Smith) $3.60; 2nd Orienzel (Will Gordon/Nathan Hobson) $2.70f; 3rd Want To Bolt (Sheridan Clarke/Kelvin Bourke) $16.
