It has been a case of rinse and repeat for Tulloch Lodge stayer Sir Lucan, who has become just the third horse in almost 70 years to win the Winter Cup twice.
Rebounding from an indifferent first-up performance last month when he settled with the tailenders and never threatened, the gelding responded to a more positive ride from Adam Hyeronimus to turn that form on its head.
Hyeronimus took Sir Lucan ($21) forward from a wide draw and stalked leader Bear On The Loose ($3 fav) before getting the better of his stablemate to score by three-quarters of a length.
Hopeful ($31) finished third, another long neck away.
“He loves the Winter Cup, Sir Lucan. He won it last year and he’s won it this year,” stable representative Neil Paine said.
“Bear On The Loose is a horse you can’t hold up and you have to let run along. Young Zac Wadick rode him an absolute treat and it was good to see him fight out the finish.
“But Adam was right on his tail, knew exactly where he was going and got out at the right time.
“It’s just great for Sir Lucan, I don’t think he has won in between this year and last year.”
Sir Lucan has mixed his form in the past 12 months and Hyeronimus admitted there were two versions of him.
But the right one turned up at Rosehill on Saturday and putting him into the race from the start was the key.
“He needs to be ridden like that. It’s the same ride as in the race last year,” Hyeronimus said.
“He can sprint once he has a soft, economical run but he had to do it early and he’s had to carry 57 (kilos) today in this race so he’s done a good job and he was tough late.
“Just book me for this race next year.”
It could be a memorable week for Sir Lucan’s part-owners Adam and Monique Annetts, who were flying to London after the Rosehill meeting to watch Storm Boy race in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes (1200m) at Royal Ascot next weekend.
The Annetts have retained a small share in the former Tulloch Lodge-trained colt, who is majority owned by Coolmore.
“If they were flying economy they will be flying first class now,” Paine said.
The other dual winners of the Winter Cup (2400m) are Destiny’s Kiss (2013 and 2019) and Royal Bark (1962-63).
