Josh Richards brings Decker home in the cup race. Photo by Jeff Hanson - NSW Country and Picnic Racing.
Photo by
Jeff Hanson - NSW Country and Picnic Racing
Jerilderie trainer Ross Purcell and Decker have backed up their minor placing at Berrigan by claiming the most coveted race at Tocumwal on Easter Saturday.
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Decker crossed the finish line first in the Farewell Tocumwal Hunt Club Tocumwal Gold Cup (1300m), with race favourite Mojo Music ($3.20) from Andrew Dale’s stables less than a length behind.
With Josh Richard aboard, Decker paid out $5.50.
A close third was the Craig Weeding trained No Quarantine ($3.30).
The win was one of special note for the local community, as Tocumwal Races committee member Gary Beer explained.
Before coming to Purcell’s stables, Decker was trained by fellow Jerilderie trainer Phil Sweeney who passed away last year.
Purcell went to the Tocumwal meet with two horses, but could not make it a double.
Zarsupreme brought up the rear in race four, the Southern Rivers Water Brokers Benchmark 45 Handicap (1300m).
The race was taken out by Lunar Landing from the Grant White stables ($11), with favourite Charcoal Annie ($3.30) trained by Rhys Archard coming in more than a length behind in second. Third was Gary Cluning’s Space Cowboy ($10).
A six race card, the racing action kicked off with the The Farrell Family and Kennedy Builders Maiden Plate (1100m).
Dale had the race favourite and took home the win with Miss Beautiful ($2.10).
Almost two lengths behind in second was the Bryan Maher trained She’s Possessed ($4) with Bridget Rose from Martin Stein’s stables third ($2.80).
The Olivia Osbourne trained Pretty Penguin ($6) had a comfortable win in race two - the Ironbark Pastoral Class 2 Handicap (1100m) - cruising past the finish line more than four lengths in front of Gulf of Finland ($5.50). Third was Rushford ($8.50).
Jockey Jake Duffy surged home atop Arcadia Power ($6) in the Global Accreditation Services Maiden Plate (1300m) for Christopher Davies.
There was barely a nose in it with the Rhys Archard trained Wakiti Bull ($13) coming in next with a margin of 0.02, followed by Gerald Egan’s Under The Hat ($3.30 fav) in third.
Ross Purcell and jockey Josh Richards with the Tocumwal Gold Cup. Photo by Jeff Hanson - NSW Country and Picnic Racing.
Photo by
Jeff Hanson - NSW Country and Picnic Racing
With the biggest field of the day, the final race was the Melbourne Bolt Co Benchmark 50 Handicap (1600m).
Race favourite Dark Legacy from Weeding’s stables could not live up to expectation and finished in the latter half of the standings.
In first was Limerbing ($7), which is part owned by former Berrigan man Les Theodore and trained by Louise Bonella.
Second by less than a length was Media Chick ($8) from the Cindy Browne stables, with the Allan Fitzgerald trained Okra ($8) third.
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