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By Geoff Newling

Walcha gelding Loud Enough ($26) won Monday’s $35,000 Inverell Cup (1400m) and is now being set for the February 9 Walcha Cup by owner/trainer George Woodward after the five-year-old son of Benicio grabbed Paddy Cunningham’s Carry On Jake ($9.50) for a final stride cup win. It was an emotional win for Woodward who only bought the gelding recently.

“Wonderful, only had him for three runs, he’s now had a third and two wins,” George Woodward said of the gelding who was also a last start Armidale winner. "Wasn’t a real nice horse when we got him. Took all the gear off him and he’s a different horse, happy.”

Woodward then made it a double when Ayda won the last race on Inverell Cup day with Belinda Hodder in the saddle. It was the Ad Valorem mare’s second win and took Woodward to five wins on the Hunter and North West Racing Association’s 2017-18 trainer’s premiership.

It was also the biggest win of Japanese apprentice Miki Nakao’s Australian career, the coastal jockey driving 3.5 hours to ride Loud Enough who will now head towards the 1440m Walcha Cup in February.

That Cup meeting will disperse more than $200,000 in prizemoney on February 9 and 10 with the eight-race Walcha Cup meeting dispensing $197,000 in prizemoney alone courtesy of the $35,000 Walcha Cup (1440m), $32,000 Ron Martin Memorial Maiden (1000m) and two $25,000 support races in the shape of a Graziers Cup (1200m) and Lightning (1000m).

The Saturday, February 10 meeting is a five-race Country Non-TAB meeting worth $6000 per race, a fun day for the local community. Walcha Jockey Club secretary Kevin Ferrier said the Inverell Cup win was a pleasing bonus heading into next month’s Cup Carnival.

“Great for George,” he said. “Also good to get a cup day double as well. He has a few new horses and they all look handy. Loud Enough looks like he might be a really good chance in the Cup.”

He said the club is preparing to start a heavier watering regimen over the next few weeks to have the track at its best on February 9/10: “The course will be fine,” he said. “We’ve also got a few new sponsors on board and are full up for this year.”

For more information on the Walcha Cup Carnival contact Kevin Ferrier (02 6777 2272).