Taree trainer Tess Wilkes took advantage of the late scratching of one of the favourites to provide the quinella with her two geldings in the Lasiandra Cup Benchmark 45 Handicap over 1650m at Wauchope Jockey Club’s meeting at its Beechwood Road track on Saturday.
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Her five-year-old Prince Coureuse ($8.50) ,a $600 buy,won the race by 5.25 lengths from her six-year-old Unique Dream ($8.50), 2.5 lengths in front of Wauchope’s Admiral Ruff ($1.80), trained by Colt Prosser.
Cessnock five-year-old gelding Finnero,trained by Jason Waters and his mare Miss Bree,were left stranded at Nabiac when his truck broke down on the way to the races.
They were not the only late scratchings as the $1.80 favourite I Am Dynamic,trained at Scone by Jenelle Butler,was also one when its transport failed to arrive on time at the course.
Chief Stipendiary steward Drew Smith said I Am Dynamic was put in the field when betting opened for the Wauchope RSL Class 1 Handicap over 1000m but soon after was declared a scratching with deductions to betting.
But nothing could be taken away from the dynamic win of Prince Coureuse,one of two winners for apprentice jockey Mikayla Weir.
“He is worth his weight in gold,”a happy Wilkes said.
“In all my racing horses that is my first quinella.”
She only paid $600 for the gelding from owner Merv Mercer,from the Coffs Race Club,he agreeing to the sale on the proviso that if the galloper won a TAB race,he was owed another $1000.
“I am lucky as it wasn’t a TAB race and I don’t have to outlay the money.”
She said Prince Coureuse,used around the stable as a lead horse,was hard fit and its run last Tuesday at the Krambach Race Club meeting had helped his fitness.
As for Unique Dream,its form had been shocking but she believed the moisture in the track and going into colder weather is turning its form around as the gelding doesn’t seem to like hot weather.
Miss Bree was scratched from the Bago Real Estate Maiden Plate over 1650m which was a sensation due to the third horse,Tuncurry Girl ($2.45),hanging out in the run and causing plenty of worry for trainer Terry Evans,jockey Robert Agnew and stewards.
The race was won by just under a length by Coffs galloper Frisco Albert ($5),trained by Paul Matts and ridden by Peter Graham,second going to Mr Mile ($2.40) ---with 38 lengths back to Tuncurry Girl.
Mr Smith said Tuncurry Girl had a habit of running out and would have to barrier trial satisfactorily before being allowed to race again.
The home town crowd went home happy after four-year-old mare Mother’s Presence ($2),trained on the track by Grant Prosser and ridden by Wauchope jockey Belinda Hodder,was headed about 100m out but fought back to score by a half length in the M & S Print Class 1 Handicap over 1240m.
The mare also won its previous race at Armidale on April 10.
Weir’s other winner was six-year-old Kempsey gelding Grande Garcon ($7),trained by Julie Lynch for herself and family,in the Wauchope Stock & Estate Agents Maiden Handicap over 1000m.
It was having its 32nd start,on two occasions previously had run second at the track, and was helped to a half-length win with Weir taking a two kilo claim.
