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By Rod Fuller

With only one stable runner travelling on the float from Scone, Brett Cavanough landed the prize with Brazen in the $32,000 Wauchope RSL Cup at Port Macquarie on Sunday.

Expertly ridden by Peter Graham, Brazen was able to position second on the rails before kicking away from Snipponet over the concluding stages to score an emphatic victory while Cogliere and Blinkin Artie filled the placings.

Brazen had raced particularly well in the Albury and Tamworth Cups and was resuming from a short break since finishing just behind the placings in the Country Cup during the recent Scone carnival.

The Kim Waugh trained gelding, King Viv, was assigned top weight and favouritism following a first-up run at Rosehill behind Volpe with the sixth performance providing a key to positive future race entries over distances closer to 2000 metres.

The performance by the Marc Quinn trained runner, Cogliere, was full of merit after travelling off the fence for the majority of the journey and making up many lengths while Blinkin Artie was a solid third.

Dreamalina ensured another trophy for Neil Godbolt and Matthew Paget in scoring over Sarajevo and Eye Striker in the $20,000 M&S Print Wauchope Sprint and provided the stable with a winning double after Taken on Chance saluted in the opening event.

Dreamalina has always looked to be an above average prospect and showed a glimpse of her best form in scoring on heavy ground over Desirable Miss at Taree last month. Looking better placed on home soil than recent performances at Casino and Taree, the Dream Ahead mare was able to stave off the finishing burst of Sarajevo, who made up enormous ground over the latter parts of the feature sprint.

The leading rider on the program was Belinda Hodder, who dictated terms in front on Salad Dodger before storming down the outside on Dragoneight later in the day.

Wauchope Jockey Club was delighted with the racing action on its major day and thanked Port Macquarie Race Club for its continued support along with valued sponsors, Wauchope RSL Club, M&S Print, Hastings Co-Op Department Store, Construction & Cladding Australia, NBN Television, Port City Glass, Wauchope Motel and Wauchope Real Estate.

The next meeting to be conducted by the Port Macquarie Race Club is on Tuesday 26^th June with full TAB and Sky Racing coverage. The John L Fisher Plumbing Supplies race day is scheduled for Saturday 14^th July to coincide with the school holidays.

View replays of every race at Port Macquarie's Wauchope Cup meeting here. 

Review

Race 1:   Hastings Co-Op Dept. Store 2YO Hcp (1206 metres)

She’s Chooise was confidently supported into odds-on favourite but was narrowly defeated by the Neil Godbolt trained galloper, Taken on Chance.

Aaron Bullock had no hesitation in allowing Sizzleonthebridge to stride to an early lead from Danger Woman with She’s Choosie perfectly positioned by Leah Kilner on the rails and Taken on Chance very handy in early proceedings.

Approaching the 600-metre mark, Terry Treichel made his move aboard the Hinchinbrook filly, Taken on Chance, to challenge for the front while She’s Choosie was warming up to her task as the field straightened for the run home.

Taken on Chance made it successive victories as she was able to hold out by a half head margin over the fast finishing burst of She’s Choosie with Danger Woman battling on soundly in third position.

Race 2:  Construction & Cladding Australia Maiden Plate (1106 metres)

Following success for the Neil Godbolt complex in the opening event, the Maiden Plate provided mixed emotions with strong support from $6.00 into $4.20 for Tejaan resulting in a placing while stablemate, The Eulo Queen was scratched at the barrier.

Louise Day raced the Kris Lees trained favourite, Shuswaggi to the early lead from Spirited Belle with Dream a Lot handily positioned and Tejaan not far away.

With Dream a Lot and Tejaan making a challenge as the field ran towards the judge, the daughter of Nadeem, Shuswaggi, kicked clear in the straight and had the large number of owners cheering as she was able to win by over two lengths.

The run of Dream a Lot should provide a get well tonic for Taree trainer, Bob Milligan.in his recovery from illness while Tejaan isn’t far from a win.

Race 3:   NBN Maiden Hcp (1506 metres)

Following seven career placings, the Johnny Roberts stable was rewarded for its patience and perseverance when Sugarland Express sailed past the post an impressive winner from Acraman and If By Chance. After a perfect dispatch, Ben Looker used the inside advantage on the Stirling Osland trained gelding, Acraman, to obtain the lead while Blaike McDougall was content to park on the outside aboard Sugarland Express.

Saganaki was sent to the barrier as firm $2.00 favourite for the prominent owners of the Mirunners syndicate and was well positioned off the speed by Aaron Bullock. Upon straightening, Sugarland Express gained the ascendancy over Acraman with Matthew Paget making up ground close to the rails on If By Chance and Saganaki making a short-lived challenge down the outside before weakening noticeably.

With Blaike McDougall having two and a half lengths to spare on the line, Sugarland Express was most dominant in victory while Acraman was responsible for a solid performance despite being beaten a fair way.

Race 4:   Port City Glass CL2 Hcp (1506 metres)

La Biere Choisie was sent out favourite for the event with Bao Zheng the best supported runner but they were no match for Belinda Hodder aboard the Colt Prosser trained galloper, Salad Dodger.

Hodder had no hesitation in taking the Star Witness gelding, Salad Dodger, to a significant lead from Zar Gold with Dew Drop on the outside and La Biere Choisie positioned off the speed in fifth position.

With Salad Dodger setting a solid pace in the lead, horses sitting back in the pack such as the Kim Waugh trained gelding, Bao Zheng, and Lope De Lope from the Jenny Graham stable were presented with a difficult assignment in arresting the leader’s margin.

Salad Dodger was able to sustain the margin in the run to the judge to land the prize by just over two lengths with Aaron Bullock making up good ground aboard La Biere Choisie into second position and Dew Drop battling on well for third.

Race 5:   M&S Print Wauchope Sprint (1006 metres)

There was a great deal of betting confidence in the Todd Howlett trained runner, All Stand, who was backed into odds-on favourite, but the Wauchope Sprint resulted in a training double to Neil Godbolt as Dreamalina landed the prize from Sarajevo and Eye Striker.

Blake Shinn used the early speed on All Stand to dart the I Am Invincible gelding to a clear lead from Art’s Got a Gun and Lucky Meteor with Nicco’s Lass handy and Sarajevo giving the pacemakers many lengths.

Dreamalina has always shown ability and the Dream Ahead mare was angled into the clear from the pack by Matthew Paget to arrest the lead from All Stand as the field headed for home.

Despite Sarajevo making up many lengths over the concluding stages, Dreamalina had enough in reserve to land the sprint feature while the run of Sarajevo was full of merit and Jemily was doing her best work late.

Race 6:    Wauchope Motel CL1 Hcp (1006 metres)

Punters who witnessed Traumatised winning on soft ground at Taree a couple of weeks ago were content to back the Kristen Buchanan trained gelding into odds on favourite but had their colours lowered by Dragoneight.

Traumatised missed the start and was back in the second half of the field as Jestus set the speed in front over Ikaba with Dragoneight patiently ridden off the speed by Belinda Hodder.

Jeff Kehoe continued to save ground on Traumatised as the field approach the bend and challenged for the lead in the straight with Belinda Hodder tagging him along aboard the Luke Thomas trained galloper, Dragoneight.

Traumatised led at the 200-metre pole but was no match for Dragoneight with the Hidden Dragon gelding racing away to score by three lengths and providing Belinda Hodder with a riding double while Shoreditch filled the minor end of the prize.

Race 7:  Wauchope RSL Club Cup (1506 metres)

Betting activity in the Wauchope RSL Wauchope Cup centred upon the Kim Waugh trained runner, King Viv, who was sent out as firm favourite over Cogliere and Blinkin Artie on the second line of betting.

Louise Day allowed Sniponet to stride around the field three deep and race to the front from the Hinchinbrook gelding, Brazen, with King Viv and Stilettoed Vixen camped behind the leaders and Cogliere trapped wide on the track.

Peter Graham arrested the lead on the Brett Cavanough trained runner, Brazen, in the straight with King Viv and Cogliere popped the question down the outside portion of the track.

Brazen had enough in hand to land the feature from Cogliere, who’s run would have pleased the Marc Quinn stable having made up many lengths over the concluding stages, while Blinkin Artie ran his usual honest race in filling the placings.

King Viv found the second run from a spell syndrome, the top weight and the shorter race distance a distinct disadvantage resulting when finishing in sixth position.

Race 8:   Wauchope Real Estate BM 55 Hcp (1106 metres)

Outsmartem was sent to the barrier as ruling favourite with the Dale Wagstaff trained runner, Bite the Media and General Nelson from the home of popular Ballina trainer Stephen Phelps, kept safe in betting operations.

Advalady was taken to the front over Port Gold and General Nelson with Ben Looker continuing to make ground on the outside aboard Bite the Media and Blake Shinn trying to track him along on Outsmartem.

The Sharkbite mare, Bite the Media, was able to race away from Outsmartem over the concluding stages to score by just over a length with Budawang motoring home from last down the apron of the track to fill third position.

Horses to Follow - Tejaan, Acraman, Sarajevo.