Ghost Protocol has given the Perry family an emotional win in the Taree Cup following the death of family matriarch Beryl.
Shannon Perry, foreman for his father Paul, said his grandmother’s death at the age of 90 was a sad occasion but Ghost Protocol’s barnstorming victory briefly eased the pain.
“When you are feeling down, I really appreciate that from the horse,” Perry told Sky Thoroughbred Central.
“The family is all at home in Newcastle but we are racing today so I had to be here.”
Ridden by Thomas Huet who has developed a great association with the Perry-trained horses, Ghost Protocol ($5) came down the outside to beat Just As Cosmic ($6) by three-quarters of a length in the $60,000 Cup (2000m).
“It is my first country Cup since I’ve been in Australia,” Sydney-based Frenchman Huet said.
“He gave me a fantastic turn of foot in the last 200 metres.
“Champagne tonight!”
Another Sydney jockey, Jason Collett, rode his first winner at Taree when he steered the Perry-trained Tanzen to win a Class 1 handicap earlier in the day.
Collett backed that up with victory on the Jason Coyle-trained Magic Dallas in the open sprint.
He then steered the Coyle-trained Just As Cosmic to second in the Cup.
