It’s a seven-hour round trip from Naracoorte to Wedderburn, but as popular horseman Greg Scholefield told us almost three years ago, “I enjoy getting around to different places”.
That article was penned in 2016 after then two-year-old Emain Macha made it three wins from three starts. “He’s very promising,” Scholefield said at the time.
Fast forward to today and that “promising” son of Safari – a stallion who incidentally 11 years ago almost to the day sensationally won the PETstock Ballarat Pacing Cup – is now a 25-time winner from 38 starts after victory in the 43rd renewal of the Loddon Shire Wedderburn Pacing Cup.
Driven forward from his wide alley (gate six), Greg Sugars was able to get a comfortable first quarter of the final mile after taking Emain Macha to the lead before the pair produced a sizzling last 1200m (1min 26.1secs).
“When you’re in cup class racing it’s very rare it gets handed to you on a platter, so you have to expect a big of work,” Sugars told Trots Vision at thetrots.com.au.
Despite obliterating Perspective’s track record by 3.5 seconds with his 1:57.0 mile rate win, Sugars said Emain Macha did the job comfortably.
“He was actually coasting at the top of the straight and switched off a little bit at the finish. He did it well within himself,” Sugars said before praising the Wedderburn track staff for today’s racing surface.
“Credit to the track staff … to run the times they’re running today, it’s previously unheard of. The track’s in terrific order.”
Scholefield is a long-time friend of Sugars and the gun reinsman had praise for him, too.
“Schoey has placed him to perfection all the way along,” Sugars said.
“(Emain Macha’s) figure form is first class and not many horses have a better strike rate on paper throughout their career.
“He’s always shown ability, right from day one, and there are plenty more wins in store for him I’m sure.”
Country cups stalwart and reigning ‘Burn Cup winner Perspective was a bold second for Chris Alford and trainer Tim O’Brien, while Satans Outlaw for trainer Col Latter and reinsman Jimmy Herbertson was third.
A cavalcade of promising youth was to the fore earlier in the Richmond and Associates Wedderburn Trotters Cup courtesy of Jerichos Trumpet’s success.
The rising star four-year-old pacing bred squaregaiter, a son of Shadow Play out of Fake Left mare All In Good Time, was sensational in overcoming an early break to cruise home by 2.7m in 2:03.2.
Trained by young trainer Zac Steenhuis and driven by one of the game’s best young reinsmen in Ryan Duffy, Jerichos Trumpet finished ahead of the consistent Fratellino, with Jackson Square in third.
The Wedderburn meeting wrapped up a huge double-header of country cups with last night’s PETstock Ballarat Pacing Cup meeting drawing a big crowd to witness Thefixer nab local fan favourite Rackemup Tigerpie at the wire.
