Warrnambool Shootout
The Sunday Age
Sunday January 13, 2008
CARGO Cult yesterday set up a clash with a fellow Warrnambool galloper Tears I Cry at Flemington on Saturday when he won his first race since November 2005 with a last-stride victory in the listed John Dillon Stakes at Caulfield.
The six-year-old gelding, who has a history of fetlock problems, was sent to 27-year-old trainer Jarrod McLean earlier this season and the trainer said Cargo Cult was rejuvenated by swimming and surging in the surf instead of working on the track."He's got wear-and-tear problems so he doesn't see too much of the track. He does most of his work on the beach and it seems to be working for him," McLean said. "He's a good horse with a good record and he's just been thriving."Cargo Cult ($6.50) looked unlikely to add to his five career wins before the home turn of the 1400-metre race, as he was at the tail of the field that had been caught napping by the daring tactics of Chris Symons, who had shot Larson ($11) to a four-length lead. But Cargo Cult, ridden by Brad Rawiller, peeled to the outside and beat Larson by a short head.McLean said he would look at backing up Cargo Cult in the Chester Manifold Stakes at Flemington. "I'll be taking on the Warrnambool champion Tears I Cry, so it won't be easy," he said.? The equine influenza outbreak in August put an end to plans for black-type mare Lucky Diva to go to stud last spring, but the disappointment turned to joy for owner-breeders Tony and Joe Bongiorno yesterday when she broke a long run of outs to win the Taranto Handicap.Trainer Robert Smerdon, who saddled up Barwon Express to win the sixth race, said Lucky Diva, who started at $11, was booked to stallion Flying Spur in the Hunter Valley but was unable to move because of EI. "They decided they didn't want to send her to another stallion, so we put her back into work after a nice break for one more campaign. She'll go to Flying Spur next spring," Smerdon said.Lucky Diva had not won for 21 months but proved too strong yesterday after racing three-wide for much of the trip.The six-year-old mare's time of one minute 03.07 seconds for the 1100-metre trip was was .61 of a second faster than Rubiton Stakes winner Here De Angels. Lucky Diva's prizemoney moved above $400,000 with yesterday's win, which was her ninth from 48 starts.? Craig Newitt ended an eventful day with a win on Miss Percival in the final event. Newitt, who started as the $1.90 favourite to win the jockeys' challenge, was placed on favourites Tremezzo (race one) and Le Famelia (race seven) and also had a fall from Hull City in the second event."He wasn't going to let that one go after the day he's had," trainer Mick Price said of Newitt's vigorous ride on Miss Percival.? Jockey Craig Williams took little credit for Darpana's impressive win in the Thomas North Plate (1100 metres). While Williams rode the two-year-old in fine style, the state's leading jockey said that Darpana was one of few horses he will not ride in trackwork for trainer David Hayes. "He's been a little bit naughty," Williams said. "So I said I wouldn't ride him. Ryan Hinton does most of his work and does a damn good job at it, so I'd probably prefer to stay his race-day jockey." Darpana ($13) won by three lengths from $3.30 favourite Hybrid, with Pride Of Lago ($13) a short-head away third. -- with PATRICK BARTLEY
© 2008 The Sunday Age
