Sport
10 July, 2024
Stamford Cup goes back to Townsville
The race meeting was moved to Hughenden but still attracted a good crowd.
Just weeks after celebrating his first win as a trainer, Townsville horseman Nathan Coves ticked another item off his list – claiming his first Cup at Hughenden.
And while the Stamford Cup might not be as prestigious as a Melbourne Cup, you couldn’t wipe the smile off Coves’ face on the drive home.
Apprentice Shae Nielson had to dig deep in the 1200m feature at Hughenden, but the Coves-trained Gamboa did enough to fend off the Kim McGovern-prepared Clogs in the dying stages.
Favourite Dollson ran third for Steven Royes.
While the races couldn’t be held at Stamford this year after the club ran out of time to make the track compliant under new rules, there were still a lot of familiar faces at Hughenden.
On the track, the spoils went in five different directions.
Richmond trainer Shryn Royes claimed the first with Greenheart in the Benchmark 60 (1000m).
Ridden by David Sparks, the $6 shot rolled the Tanya Parry-trained favourite.
Mount Isa’s Jay Morris enjoyed a maiden victory with Atlantic Ridge with Jason Babarovich in the saddle.
Sent out as a $1.80 favourite, the four-year-old gelding put paid to his rivals over 1000m.
Longreach’s Richard Simpson didn’t go home empty handed after Plums Akimbo proved up to the task in the Benchmark 45 (800m) under the guidance of experienced jockey Shane McGovern.
And Julia Creek’s Kerry Krogh enjoyed a well-deserved win with Mopar in the Benchmark 50 over 1200m, giving Babarovich the only double of the day.
There is no racing in the North West this Saturday, with all eyes on the TAB program at Mount Isa on Monday.