Latest News

Leeton trainer Peter Clancy broke a long drought with his first CopRice Leeton Cup on his home track since 2014 on Saturday with jockey Josh Richards snatching victory over Bold Triumph at the post.

Carrying 55kg, Mayfair Hotel came down the inside of the field after being last at the turn with a big run and lunged at the post to beat the $2.50 favourite in the $14,000 Benchmark 58 Handicap over 1600m.

Paying $7 for the win, the five-year-old mare was having her 23rd start for owners Peter Clancy, son Greg and daughter Tanya Irvin. Mayfair Hotel covered the 1600m in 1.35.17 with the last 600m in 36.4. Last year’s Leeton Cup winner Jayzeal was fourth.

The win was a special one for jockey Josh Richards as a former apprentice to Peter and his late wife Nerrida.

Bold Triumph is trained by Craig Widdison, at Wodonga, and was ridden by apprentice Amy O’Driscoll carrying 50kg. Coming in 1.11 lengths behind in third was Kerma Art, trained by Gary Colvin, Wagga Wagga, and ridden by Carly Frater.

Josh Richards on Mayfair Hotel edges out Amy O’Driscoll on Bold Triumph to win the 2025 CopRice Leeton Cup for Leeton trainer Peter Clancy. (Pic: Kim Woods)

Clancy’s Sona Lodge stable also scored a second in the Lanhams Jewellers/PSP Haulage Maiden Plate over 1150m with Izablonde having her first start with another former Clancy apprentice John Kissick in the saddle. The four-year-old mare went out as $2.50 favourite and was beaten by a length by the Marcus O’Connor trained Overtoux.

The Cup win was greeted with a roar of appreciation from the local crowd, and it was topped off with the stable achieving a third placing in the final race of the day with six-year-old gelding Jeddyla ridden by Josh Richards.

Greg Clancy and his father had bought a team of four horses to the meeting, and said Mayfair Hotel had been stepped up from two runs at 1200m and 1300m to 1600m for a win on the home track.

“She’s got no early speed, so I told Josh to ride her for luck and she went round the horses, and it worked out well,” Greg said.

“She jumps with them but is always last at the corner. We will look at another 1600m race for her and she does like the wet. It was special to win the Cup – there is nothing like a win at home.”

Greg said Izablonde would be set for a 1200m or 1400m maiden within the next fortnight at Wagga or Albury.

“Izablonde was having her first start – she is owned by Fay Boots, wife of one of our long-time owners and breeders David Boots,” he said.

John Kissick kicked off the day in dominant form, bringing home Cassimir in the Hotondo Homes/Milbrae Concrete and Quarries Class 2 Handicap over 1050m in a time of 59.09 for Wagga trainer Rodger Waters. Apprentice Brittany Button on Kool Kat was a length away in second for Benalla trainer Olivia Osborne, while 3.16 lengths in third was the Shane Bloomfield trained Rockbarton Fashion ridden by apprentice Ella McGuirk.

The form continued for Kissick, notching up his second win in the Leeton Hotel/Yenda Producers benchmark 50 Handicap over 1150m. Trained by Doug Gorrel at Wagga, Tycoon Artie carried 61.5kg and covered the distance in 1.06.81. The four-year-old gelding was having his 23rd start and was coming off a third at Tocumwal over 1100m on April 19.

Brittany Button piloted Vonk into second place for Wangaratta trainer Andrew Dale and 3.45 lengths away in third was Flight Deck, ridden by Amy O’Driscoll and trained by Cindy Brander, Mildura.

Apprentice Amy O’Driscoll had a good day at Leeton, bringing Overtoux home to win the maiden plate over 1150m in a time of 1.05.86 for Wangaratta trainer Marcus O’Connor. The four-year-old mare was having her 26th start, had come off a fifth at Kilmore on April 5 and beat the local favourite Izablonde by 1.12 lengths. In third was the Doug Gorrel trained Gold Candle with apprentice Violet Soulsby in the saddle.

Quarantine Dreams, carrying 59kg, covered the 1600m in the final race of the day, Symtek Electrical/Leeton Toyota Class 1 and Maiden Plate, in 1.36.67 under jockey Justin Stanley. Trained by Dan McCarthy at Wangaratta, the seven-year-old gelding was having his 25th start with the step up in distance suiting him. Three Earls, trained by Chris Davis, Seymour and ridden by Amy O’Driscoll was 1.4 lengths away in second while 1.42 lengths in third place was the Peter Clancy trained Jeddyla.

Leeton Jockey Club president Grant Fitzsimon said the track, rated a Good 3, and grounds were in magnificent condition, drawing praise from trainers and jockeys.

Mr Fitzsimon said a strong crowd enjoyed the picnic atmosphere with marquees on the lawn and entrants in a full program of Fashions on the Field travelling from as far as Canberra and Wangaratta to compete.

He said the meeting was well supported with 63 acceptances from trainers as far as Seymour, Mildura, Tumut, Benalla and Swan Hill.