PUNTERS were served a knock-out blow when $61 bolter Macleay scraped paint to win the $55,000 Graysonline Moree Cup (1400m) on Sunday.
Armidale trainer Jane Clement is no stranger to big-race wins, but the Moree Cup was one trophy missing from her mantelpiece.
Clement’s grandfather, legendary Tamworth trainer Merv Corliss, went close in 1999 when bush marvel Akwazoff finished second to Amorist in the Moree Cup.
“It certainly is an honour to be on the Moree Cup honour list as there are a lot of stalwarts before me. Merv has been a big influence in my training career, and I’m sure he’s up there cheering me on,” Clement smiled.
Under the expert hands of rising young apprentice Mollie Fitzgerald, Macleay defied double-figure odds to kick strongly approaching the line and score by three-parts of a length from Cameron Crockett’s $2.90 favourite Rajnish.
Jacob Perrett’s Wiggles ($7) stormed home late to finish third, a long-neck away.
“This is just super. We couldn’t be happier,” Clement beamed as Fitzgerald brought the seven-year-old back to the enclosure.
“He probably wanted a mile, but he freshened up beautifully and Mollie rode him an absolute treat.”
Clement, who won the previous race with Extreme Merger, was surprised to see Macleay unwanted in betting.
“I honestly think he was the wrong price. Indifference was the second favourite (in Sunday’s cup) and Macleay ran second to that horse two starts ago,” Clement said.
Rob Clement and Mollie Fitzgerald share the moment after winning the Moree Cup on Sunday with bolter Macleay (Image Copyright).
Apprentice Mollie Fitzgerald parked Macleay a little worse that midfield after overcoming a wide draw. She saved valuable ground by hugging the rails most of the trip.
“We had a wide gate to contend with, and he was a bit slow out, which he normally is,” Fitzgerald said.
“But we were able to find the rail and just continued improving throughout the run. When the gap opened up, he kept improving and was really strong over the line.
“Full credit to the horse and Jane’s team. Her horses are always consistent and always run very well.
“I really want to thank Jane and ‘Clemo’ (Rob Clement) for the opportunity to be a part of this win.
“They are beautiful people, who really put a lot into their horses. Every horse is a priority and they continue to produce happy horses that try hard and love racing.”
Macleay gave Clement the second leg of a race-to-race double after Extreme Merger scored first-up in the 1200m Boland Petroleum Class 1 Handicap for Mikayla Weir.
Extreme Merger ($5) charged home out wide to score by a long-neck from Stirling Osland’s Lady of the Hunter ($26) with Brett Cavanough’s Paris Lad ($3.10fav) a similar margin away third.
Clement said Extreme Merger’s win was sweet justice after the horse lost a race in the stewards’ last preparation.
“He won first-up last time at Muswellbrook but the race was taken off him on protest, so he got it fair and square this time,” Clement smiled.
“He’s been a really good horse for us. He’s also won a super maiden at Kempsey as well as a heap of seconds.”
Mollie Fitzgerald smiles broadly as she brings Moree Cup winner Macleay back to scale (Image Copyright).
Weir, who also won the last race for Stirling Osland on Moree track specialist Leica Model, said the genuine speed played into her hands.
“It was a really good first-up effort from him over the 1200m,” Weir said.
“I knew there would be a bit of speed so I let him travel wherever he was happy. We had the right run in the race on the back of one of the favourites.
“I just decided to give him a nice, clean run and pop him into it at the right time. He kept improving down the straight, and hit the line really well,” she said.
Words and Image: Bill Poulos
