Five years after winning the Gilgandra Cup in a photo finish, Max Crockett and jockey Mathew Cahill teamed up to do the exact same thing again on Sunday.
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The duo combined with seven-year-old Lancelot to take out the thrilling 2017 edition of the Cup after holding off a flying Pippi’s Pride late on.
The win came following Crockett and Cahill’s victory together with Dreamwinner in 2012 while it marked a second Cup win for Lancelot after the gelding won the Gilgandra feature in 2014 with Anthony Cavallo onboard.
The $35,000 Gilgandra Cup (1600m) began as an open affair with not one chance jumping at odds better than $5.
Dubbo trainer Peter Nestor saddled up the favourites, with Cavlllo jumping out on Top Magic ($5) while hometown hope Yes Zariz, trained by Bruce Parker and ridden by Michael Travers, was close behind at $5.50.
Our Sarastro ($8), trained at Dubbo by Connie Greig, jumped brilliantly from barrier one with apprentice Chris Williams in the saddle and immediately got to the lead.
Cahill settled in second with Lancelot ($9) while Parker’s other hope Also A Star ($13), Yes Zariz and Husswick ($8) also sat in the leading pack.
Our Sarastro continued to set the pace but the field began to bunch with the likes of Pippi’s Pride ($9) and Top Magic made their way forward.
As the field approached the bend for home, Our Sarastro was joined by Lancelot at the front while after making his way up along the fence, Greg Ryan peeled wide onboard Pippi’s Pride.
It quickly appeared a race between four as Top Magic also moved up.
It appeared Lancelot was on his way to victory but Top Magic gave one last kick and then Pippi’s Pride went up another gear and came flying down the outside.
But the inside runner had it and Lancelot hung on to score win number 11 from 43 starts.
It was one of two victories on the day for Cahill after he had earlier taken out the day’s first race, the Len Kelly Memorial Maiden Plate (1100m) with Cameron Crockett’s Nictock ($3.50 favourite).
The day’s other feature race, the $25,000 Gilgandra Town Plate (1100m) was won by Dubbo trainer Peter Nestor.
Danish Lace ($2.70) scored a one-and-one-quarter length win with Kaylee Kirkwood in the saddle, getting home ahead of Sargent Doakes ($2 favourite) and One Last Poet ($9).
Nestor has three horses from his stable nominated for Cup day this Sunday at Cowra.
Nick Guthrie
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
