Jack Laugher produced a stunning drive with his old mate Torrid Saint to win Thursday afternoon’s United Petroleum Yarra Valley Pacing Cup (2650m).
Laugher weaved some magic in the cart to help the Julie Douglas-prepared six-year-old score a deserved success in the $35,000 event - his first Cup and second Group-level triumph at start 124.
From barrier nine, Torrid Saint found himself momentarily four back along the pegs in the early stages of the race when Rhys Nicholson sent Sebs Choice burning to the lead. But pouncing on an opportunity, Laugher then extricated his horse away from the inside and to a spot behind favourite Hes Ideal, who lobbed in the one-one after galloping away at the start.
Mark Pitt then peeled three-wide and took Hes Ideal to the top more than a lap from home, which allowed Torrid Saint to claim his place behind Western Sonador.
Laugher bided his time before presenting the son of Shadow Play approaching the final turn, and he did the rest. Torrid Saint grabbed Hes Ideal about 50m from home and held off the late challenge from runner-up Make Way to score by 2m in a mile rate of 1:57.6.
“Things turned our way mid-race there when I could get off the fence and then Pitty (Mark Pitt) going around before I did probably wasn’t a bad thing in the end, even though we hung in and struggled a little bit around that last turn,” Laugher said.
“But once he straightened up again, he knuckled down and he hit the line good.”
Torrid Saint’s Yarra Valley victory was his 17th at the races and followed recent efforts in the Maryborough, Geelong and Swan Hill cups through October.
“He’s just been a little ripper,” Laugher said.
“He just comes out and does his thing... he's the same horse just about every week. And if he's not, he's got an excuse. He's very honest.”