Top local jockey Matthew Cahill has produced a superb tactical ride on bold frontrunner Inverloch to clinch an upset victory in the $200,000 Wagga Cup.
While Cahill has won a host of feature races throughout his career, including the 1998 Black Opal Stakes aboard Speed Week and 2005 The Shorts on Black Ink, he rated Friday’s triumph among the most satisfying.
“This is up there with them. I’ve won a Wagga Cup before, I’ve had plenty of goes at it, but nice to get one later in my career,” Cahill said on Sky Thoroughbred Central.
Despite absorbing some pressure early in the 2000 metre race from Knight’s Order, Inverloch ($31) took up the leadership role and Cahill was able to get the Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young-trained gelding into a beautiful rhythm.
He quickened the pace at the 800 metres and pinched a break on his opponents, the gelding digging deep in the straight to fend off Spirit Ridge ($4.40), who charged late to dead-heat for second with Yonkers ($3.90 fav).
“They took us on a little bit early, (but) from about the 1200 they backed off and I got some nice cheap sectionals,” Cahill said.
“I upped the ante again from the 800 metres but full credit to the horse, he just really knuckled down and tried his heart out right to the line.”
Busuttin was trackside at Wagga and said it was a thrill to win the feature race for Terry Henderson’s OTI Racing.
“He is just a grand old horse,” Busuttin said.
“Three years ago, we won a (benchmark) 78, 2000 at Swan Hill and I thought that would be his go and he just kept on winning.”
Inverloch has now won nine of his 35 starts and banked more than $700,000.
Earlier on the program, Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott took out the MTC Guineas (1600m) with superbly bred three-year-old Maranoa.
By Snitzel out of Group One winner Faint Perfume, Maranoa took his record to two wins from three starts, flying the gates and dictating terms to score comfortably.
