FORMER Irish jockey, Tom Madden, continued his recent success at country cup level, winning Saturday’s Penshurst Cup on Glitter ‘N’ Gold for Warrnambool trainer, Lindsey Smith.
In front of a good crowd despite the weather and a deteriorating track, Madden’s second cup success didn’t come without drama, especially after missing the start by three lengths.
Thankfully, on the back of the slow pace set by race favourite, Wetakemanhattan, the pair were quickly able to make up lost ground and settle just beyond midfield.
Approaching the home turn, Madden sliced through the field to be in a striking position at the top of the home straight.
After some tightening between runners and a short battle with topweight Valley Forge, the five-year-old mare under Madden’s strong urgings took control to win by just over one length.
Jackand finished a further length back in third, while Wetakemanhattan dropped out for a disappointing fifth as the $2.50 favourite.
Madden’s double after steering home Brain Fog earlier for Tom Dabernig follows a double at St Arnaud last month, which included winning the cup on Riotous Mischief.
Madden arrived in Australia 12 months ago through his brother’s friendship with former jumps jockey, Shane Jackson, and after a slow start has started to rack up the winners.
Well sought after by Warrnambool trainers including Smith, Dabernig, Aaron Purcell and Peter Chow, the hard-working hoop has now recorded 29 wins.
Melissa Julius enjoyed another good day in the saddle, also grabbing a double and narrowly missed making it a treble in the final race.
Her wins were on Quik Rhapid and Honour De Hero for trainers Jamie Opperman and Daniel Bowman, before Daskulya was just missed in the last race for Stephen Lenehan.
Eight years since debuting at this meeting, Julius has continued to have great success at the venue.
From 38 rides, she has won ten races striking at 26 per cent along with top three finishes at over 55 per cent.
Honour De Hero continued Bowman’s great record at the track, the mare backing up last year’s win with a commanding five-length romp.
The Bowman stable enjoyed a great day with Is It Me making it a double when winning at Cranbourne.
The promising gelding debuted at Penshurst last year, scoring in commanding fashion by seven lengths.
The feelgood story of the meeting was comeback jockey, Lester Grace, winning on the Matt and Louise Cooper-trained mare, Rose Of Sebring.
After four and a half years out of the saddle, Grace didn’t take long to ride a winner after making his comeback at Dunkeld last weekend.
After four placings from a handful of rides, he was finally rewarded with a win when storming home out wide on the six-year-old mare.
The win also made it a great fortnight for the husband-and-wife training partnership after Bomber’s Kiss won at Naracoorte.
Cranbourne and Mornington trainers, Mark Stephenson and Shawn Mathrick, made the long treks a happy one when winning with Vegas On Fire and Stirrup respectively, while Pat Ryan Jnr who won the cup last year with Anirishman, put the polish on Big Town, who was able to break his maiden after 11 previous starts.
Results
Race 1 Ace Radio Maiden Plate 1000m - 1st Quik Rhapid (Melissa Julius/Jamie Opperman) $2.60; 2nd Villainesque (Laura Lafferty/Matt Laurie) $2.45f; 3rd Rocklea (Lester Grace/Tom Dabernig) $7.
Race 2 FLEXOLT oral lice control for sheep Maiden Plate 1284m - 1st Vegas On Fire (Paul Gatt/Shawn Mathrick) $3.60; 2nd Lakota Blaze (Tom Madden/Ben O’Farrell) $9; 3rd Lord Cat (Sairyn Fawke/Scott Irlam) $12.
Race 3 Zoetis Maiden Plate 1476m - 1st Big Town (Tayla Childs/Pat Ryan Jnr) $4; 2nd Spirited Smile (Dylan Turner/Chris Calthorpe) $21; 3rd Churchie Girl (Melissa Julius/Daniel Bowman) $1.85f.
Race 4 Cottrills Plumbing & Page Electrical Maiden Plate 1476m - 1st Brain Fog (Tom Madden/Tom Dabernig) $2.50f; 2nd Hrungnir (Christine Puls/Joanne Mugavin) $3.20; 3rd Hold The Phone (Lester Grace/Adam Chamber) $18.
Race 5 Pat Hassett Memorial BM58 Handicap 1284m - 1st Honour De Hero (Melissa Julius/Daniel Bowman) $2.70f; 2nd Thunderanlightning (Luke Williams/Ken Elford) $4.40; 3rd Edgy Era (Tayla Childs/Aaron Purcell) $11.
Race 6 Bet365 Penshurst Cup 2000m - 1st Glitter ‘N’ Gold (Tom Madden/Lindsey Smith) $3.50; 2nd Valley Forge (Lester Grace/Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr) $19; 3rd Jackand (Laura Lafferty/Patrick Kearney) $6.50.
Race 7 Kelly Memorial sponsored by Kellys AGnVET BM52 Handicap 1476m - 1st Rose Of Sebring (Lester Grace/Matt & Lousie Cooper) $11; 2nd Inkslinger (Campbell Rawiller/Brian McGrath) $3.30f; 3rd Fighting Sweet (Tom Madden/Andrew Bobbin) $16.
Race 8 Dunkeld & District Bendigo Bank BM52 Handicap 1000m - 1st Stirrup (Lauren Burke/Mark Stephenson) $4.40; 2nd Daskulya (Melissa Julius/Stephen Lenehan) $4.80; 3rd Carry On Camping (Sairyn Fawke/Malcolm Sharp) $61.
