Brett Prebble has won feature races all over the world and on Friday he added another Cup to his resume, the Wagga Gold Cup.
The champion jockey teamed with Hall of Fame trainer Chris Waller to score a thrilling win in the $200,000 Listed event with imported galloper Wicklow.
The 45-year-old earlier this year relocated to Sydney from his native Victoria, where he had been based since returning from Hong Kong several years ago, and was thrilled his efforts to make the trip to southern New South Wales after getting down to 54kg were not in vain.
“It’s the first time I’ve been here…I enjoyed it,” he said.
“I feel like I’ve been 10 rounds with Mike Tyson, having to do the weight, but we got there and it was all worthwhile in the end.”
Prebble and Wicklow ($5.50) survived a late charge from Group 1 winner Lion’s Roar ($8) to register the sixth win of an 18-start career that started in England.
The five-year-old settled second-last after jumping from the outside barrier in the field of 13 and spotted leader Cognac around 20 lengths in the middle stages before launching a sustained run from the 800m.
Another One ($10) looked poised to provide a local win after dashing to the front midway down the straight but Wicklow reeled him in in the final couple of strides and then held off the finish of Lion’s Roar to score by the narrowest of margins.
Wicklow’s stablemate Kukeracha ($18) kicked back to edge out Another One for third placing.
Iowa, the first emergency who was heavily backed to start $3.20 favourite, enjoyed a sweet run fourth one off the fence but was niggled at before straightening and could managed only ninth placing, just under nine lengths from Wicklow.
“It was a horrow draw and we had to go back to pretty much second last and they went a real good gallop, which really dragged him out, and I reckon it just took a toll inside the last 150 (metres) because he hadn’t had that 2000-metre (lead-up) race,” Prebble said.
“I think now he’s had the run over it he will be more conditioned for it and he can probably take another step. He’s a really nice horse going forward.”
Wicklow carries the carries of local identity and prominent horse owner Richard Pegum, who celebrated his fourth hometown Cup win.
