After having to be satisfied with minor prizemoney over the last few years, the day belonged to Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott as Rapido Chaparro stormed away for a comprehensive victory in the Carlton Draught Port Macquarie Cup on Friday.
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Following the disappointment of placings in the event behind Chris Waller trained horses, Exoteric and Loving Home, the partnership was able to turn the tables on their nemesis as Rapido Chaparro led throughout to land the feature from Morton's Fork with Master Shuhood back in third position.
Adam Hyeronimus took advantage of Rapido Chaparro's early speed to dart the son of High Chaparral to a clear lead from Chivadahlii and Zaunkonig with the rider allowed to dictate terms in front before dashing clear as the field approached the home bend.
Despite the Richard Litt trained topweight, Morton's Fork, working home along the rails and Master Shuhood making up good ground down the outside with Lady Evelyn, they were no match for Rapido Chaparro who scored by just under two lengths.
It was certainly a day to savour for Hyeronimus who was the most successful rider on the program with a treble after saluting on Patagonian in the opening event prior to Grimoire's strong victory in the Birdon Group Sprint.
His ride on the Jason Coyle trained Magic Albert gelding in the feature short course event showed great maturity as Hyeronimus was able to balance Grimoire near the tail of the field before saving valuable ground close to the fence and hitting the line strongly to claim Valbeata on the winning line.
Miss Redoble completed a riding double for Aaron Bullock as the Drumbeats mare landed a narrow victory for popular trainer, Tracey Bartley, in the Fastplast Building Supplies Hastings Cup over Let's Rebelle and Casino Mondial.
Let's Rebelle seemed very unlucky in the event after Ben Looker was caught wide for most of the journey following the jockey taking out the Class 1 on Plonka by a narrow margin over Taldora Miss.
The highly promising Epaulette gelding sent punters holding tickets on the short favourite to the bar when Plonka was well pocketed on the rails before Looker was able to extricate into the clear and take the race by a narrow but decisive margin.
Zellymay landed some sizeable wagers for the Allan Kehoe stable with a successful debut in the Fillies and Mares Maiden Plate while the former Victorian, Ardee, saluted for the Robert Thompson and John Sprague combination in the following event.
Salad Dodger met with confident support in the final race and was responsible for an outstanding performance when Peter Graham stormed down the outside to land the prize for the Colt Prosser yard.
Threatening skies failed to dampen the enthusiasm of a large crowd in attendance with the track playing well despite a slight advantage to horses making ground towards the centre of the home straight.
Carlton Draught has been a wonderful supporter for the cup over recent years and the club is delighted to continue their partnership with great appreciation for all the other sponsors assisting to make the day so memorable in the shape of Bridon Group, Fastplast Building Supplies, Flower Hotels De Bortoli Wines, Oxyoptia, JR Richards and Sons, Watpac Constructions and Racing NSW.
Race 1 - WATPAC CONSTRUCTIONS CG&E MAIDEN PLATE (1200 M)
Patagonian worked to the line well at Scone over 1100 metres and punters believed the extra distance was suitable resulting in the flashy chestnut being labelled as the short favourite with spirited late support for Beat That and Geotime.
Matthew McGuren anticipated the start well and swept Surmise to the lead from the Neil Godbolt trained gelding, Walton Hall, who sat on the outside of the leader while Ballybrack was trapped very wide around Padura.
Adam Hyeronimus positioned Patagonian perfectly just off the speed on the inside of Geotime while Beat That was caught off the track.
The field packed behind Surmise approaching the home bend as Ballybrack and Beat That commenced their runs towards the crown of the track.
Patagonian was pocketed behind the leader before Hyeronimus obtained a clear passage and dashed to the lead from Surmise with Walton Hall yielding ground.
The Paul Perry trained Dream Ahead gelding charged to the front and was able to withstand the finishing efforts of Beat That and Ballybrack to land the prize by just over a length with Surmise holding on well for third.
Race 2 - JR RICHARDS & SONS F&M MAIDEN PLATE (1200 M)
Serlina was the pre-post favourite but drifted almost a point due to the confident support for Spanish Rain and Zellymay.
Poetic Design reared in the air and was a conspicuous last at barrier rise as Swizeler assumed the early lead from Adventure Queen and Sneaky Gal.
Monica's Star was in the firing line early with Matt McGuren positioning the Trevor Hardy trained mare, Serlina, just off the pace while Bear the Crown wasn't far away.
After being caught on a limb early, Ben Looker made a move and dashed Sneaky Gal to a two-length lead down the side of the track as Aaron Bullock began to improve ground on Zellymay in front of Spanish Rain.
Sneaky Gal swung the bend with a good lead from Adventure Queen, One Pound and Monica's Star with Serlina bottled away in the centre of the pack before Zellymay came with a powerful run out wide.
With Monica's Star saving ground along the rails and Bear the Crown charging from near last down the outside, Zellymay was too strong and the debutant mare gave trainer, Allan Kehoe, a deserved victory from Monica's Star, Bear the Crown and Spanish Rain with Serlina failing to fire over the concluding stages.
Race 3 - OXYOPTIA CLASS 2 HANDICAP (1000 M)
Betting was dominated by the top two horses in the weights with the Brett Cavanough trained filly, Emperor's Star, narrowly holding a sixty-cent call in front of Hard Merchandise with Chief Havoc firm just into the double figure quote.
Emperor's Star was ridden with earnest by Adam Hyeronimus and raced to the early lead from Oyashio Drift and Gold Rhapsody with Chief Havoc handily positioned from Perfect and True Pride.
Hard Merchandise was in the middle of the field in front of Alshahhad and Red Raffle with Robert Thompson settling the former Victorian galloper, Ardee, just behind those runners.
Emperor's Star tried to kick in the home straight from Oyashio Drift with Chief Havoc angling into the clear as Hard Merchandise and Ardee made their runs together.
Thompson gained the lead on Ardee in the shadows of the post and the John Sprague trained son of Redoute's Choice was able to claim a narrow victory from Hard Merchandise and Chief Havoc with Emperor's Star just behind the placegetters.
Race 4 - DE BORTOLI WINES COUNTRY MAGIC CLASS 1 HANDICAP (1200 M)
The Warren Gavenlock trained gelding, Plonka was backed to the exclusion of all other starters and was the ruling odds on favourite from Taldora Miss with Penny Rosa on the third line of betting.
Sing us a Song failed a veterinary examination and was withdrawn by order of the stewards as Plonka began well before being headed by I'm Jacko and Nicconi Lass.
Taldora Miss was well positioned behind the early speed battle while Penny Rosa began well but was allowed to drift back though the pack and settle in the second half of the field.
Luke Rolls allowed Nicconi Lass to stride clear down the side of the course from Serene Beauty with Taldora Miss working up on the outside to place Plonka in a pocket.
Nicconi Lass straightened with a narrow lead before being challenged by Serene Beauty with Aaron Bullock on Taldora Miss keeping Plonka firmly wedged away on the rails as Penny Rosa began a move.
Taldora Miss and Serene Beauty dashed to the lead as Ben Looker extricated into the clear on Plonka with the favourite finally gaining clear galloping room to finish powerfully and grab the leaders on the post to score by a narrow margin
Taldora Miss just claimed second a breath in front of Serene Beauty with Nicconi Lass, Natural Predator and Penny Rosa not far away.
Race 5 - BIRDON GROUP SPRINT (1200 METRES)
The Kim Waugh stable has a tremendous record in this race and punters labelled their runner, Spring Charlie as the easing favourite with support attracted towards Catesby and Malea Magic while Grimoire attracted good wagers at longer prices.
Grimoire was on his toes prior to the start before beginning well as Malea Magic aced towards the early lead underneath Coolotta with Catesby tracking three horses wide.
Valbeata was camped just behind the pacemakers with Sausalito while Star Reflection was back near the rear of proceedings with Grimoire.
Grant Buckley on Coolotta eased out of the speed battle down the side of the track and allowed Malea Magic and Catesby to attack for the lead as What Could Be started to make ground around the field.
Catesby and Malea Magic straightened for the run to the judge together before Belinda Hodder made her move on Malea Magic with Grimoire saving valuable ground close to the fence as Spring Charlie laboured under pressure.
Malea Magic took the lead before being claimed near the post by Grimoire with the Jason Coyle trained gelding getting up in the last stride and providing Adam Hyeronimus with a riding double.
Valbeata finished second in front of Catesby, who provided a good performance after being on the speed the entire journey while Spring Charlie was disappointing and failed to beat a runner home.
Race 6 - FASTPLAST BUILDING SUPPLIES HASTINGS CUP (1500 M)
The Jenny Graham trained mare, Let's Rebelle, was heavily supported to claim favouritism with supporters of Miss Redoble remaining loyal while Chalmers was an easing third elect in front of Casino Mondial and Evopex.
Following Prima Stella's withdrawal at the barrier, Cool Prince assumed control early from
Miss Redoble and Casino Mondial with Let's Rebelle making ground wide towards the leaders.
Brenton Avdulla positioned Chalmers just behind the early speed battle around Darci's Affair while Evopex settled worse than midfield in front of Haames, Puurfect Trick and Lamma Hilton.
Cool Prince led at the halfway marker from Miss Redoble with Fastquest driving up along the inside while Ben Looker was still planted wide on Let's Rebelle in front of Chalmers, Casino Mondial and Evopex.
The John Shelton trained gelding, Cool Prince, swung the home turn in front before being challenged by Miss Redoble with Let's Rebelle continuing to make ground down the outside.
The later pair raced clear for a struggle to the post before the Tracey Bartley trained mare, Miss Redoble was able to score a narrow victory from Let's Rebelle and in turn providing Aaron Bullock with a riding double.
The effort of Let's Rebelle was outstanding after a hard run in transit while Casino Mondial battled on well for third in front of Fastquest with Haames, Chalmers and Evopex finishing in the middle of the pack.
Race 7 - 2019 CARLTON DRAUGHT PORT MACQUARIE CUP (2000 M)
Rapido Chaparro sustained the cup favouritism throughout betting operations with solid confidence around Master Shuhood while Morton's Fork drifted a point and a half to be on the third line of wagering activities.
Adam Hyeronimus had no hesitation in allowing Rapido Chaparro to stride clear from barrier rise over Chivadahlii, on the outside of Zaunkonig with the Chris Waller trained gelding, Master Shuhood on the outside of Morton's Fork.
Peter Graham had O'Driscoll positioned midfield around Lady Evelyn while He's a Given and Dew Drop were camped in the centre of the pack in front of Art Attack.
This formation remained relatively unchanged as Rapido Chaparro dictated terms in front from Chivadahlii with the recent Bathurst Cup winner, Zaunkonig, enjoying a soft run along the rails.
Master Shuhood began to make ground with O'Driscoll and Lady Evelyn as the field approached the home turn while the Richard Litt trained gelding, Morton's Fork obtained clear galloping room close to the inside.
Hyeronimus had a good advantage in the home straight aboard Rapido Chaparro and the son of High Chaparral kicked three lengths clear down the running to race away from Morton's Fork and Master Shuhood to take the cup while Lady Evelyn ran home well into fourth position.
O'Driscoll was wide throughout and it was no surprise to see the O'Reilly gelding weaken over the concluding stages while Dew Drop failed to fire and Zaunkonig did little after an easy run in transit.
After collecting the win, Adam Hyeronimus said Chaparro ran well in front for the race.
"That's the way he races, obviously Gai and Adrian's horses are always positive out of the gates," he said.
"I didn't have to lead but he races better, I was able to control the race.
"I went pretty steady during the run before picking up a long way from home because I knew the other horses wouldn't be able to sustain a gallop that he can.
"He's as fit as a fiddle and he feels great.
"I haven't ridden here for a while but last time I ran second for Gai and Adrian in the cup, it's very pleasing to be able to get the win."
Race 8 - FLOWER HOTELS BENCHMARK 66 HANDICAP (1100 M)
Salad Dodger was the heavily labelled favourite with the weight of money causing Impulsive Maneuver and Typhoon Bonny to drift while Better Not Fly was kept safe in front of Ondo Pasa.
Serg Lisnyy took advantage of Too Easy Bro's early speed to dart the son of All Too Hard to the lead from Count Dekroner and Manning Treasure with Typhoon Bonny trapped on a limb three wide.
Impulsive Maneuver was handily placed early from Better Not Fly and Natural Image with Salad Dodger planted deep on the track after drawing wide at the barrier.
Too Easy Bro led towards the home turn from Count Dekroner with the Jim Jarvis trained gelding, Impulsive Maneuver, angling into the clear while Salad Dodger commenced his run on the extreme outside section of the track.
Too Easy Bro led until the 200 metres mark before being quickly rounded up by Salad Dodger with the Colt Prosser trained gelding able to withstand the finishing run of More Patasi to land the prize with Natural Image claiming third in front of Too Easy Bro.
Gordon's Leap worked home well with Better Not Fly while Impulsive Maneuver yielded ground over the concluding stages to finish near the tail of the field and Typhoon Bonny raced wide throughout and it might me wise to forgive the run.
Horses to Follow
Bear the Crown, Let's Rebelle, Gordon's Leap.
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