Strength in numbers paid off for Andrea Dailly when Lala Kiwi continued her recent domination of the Group 1 TAB Australian Cup (525m) at The Meadows on Saturday night.
Lala Kiwi, runner-up in the G1 Melbourne Cup last November and one of ‘Team Dailly’s’ four finalists, gave the all-conquering Anakie kennel its sixth Australian Cup victory since 2010.
The previous Dailly winners were Dyna Lachlan (2010), Spud Regis (2013), Dyna Double One (2015), Hecton Bale (2018) and Dyna Patty (2019), all of which except Spud Regis were bred and raced by the late, great industry icon Paul Wheeler, who passed away suddenly last October.
It was an extra special achievement this time around, as all four Dailly finalists – Lala Kiwi (1st), Gypsy Bun (3rd), Daph’s Ascend (4th) and Zippy Tesla (5th) – were home-bred products.
“It’s quite exciting when you breed them,” co-trainer Tom Dailly told Sky Racing’s Jason Adams.
“It would do (feel different to previous wins), to George (twin brother), more than anybody, because he breeds them and he’s done a sensational job with what he’s been breeding lately.”
Lala Kiwi (May ’19 Aussie Infrared x Lala Shim) was the fastest qualifier for the $300,000 to-the-winner Cup final, winning her heat in 29.61sec, and she started $3.80 favourite from Box 4.
Zippy Tesla (Box 3), winner of the G1 Silver Chief at The Meadows on New Year’s Day, was the $4.30 second elect.
Lala Kiwi and Paddy Wants Pats ($6.90) were best to begin and duelled for the early ascendancy, but Lala Kiwi gained the upper hand in the back straight, racing clear to score by 1.75 lengths in a fast time of 29.63sec.
Runner-up Paddy Wants Pats prevented the Dailly quartet filling the first four.
Lala Kiwi, the 26th favourite to win the Cup since its inception in 1958, has now won 20 of her 49 starts, with her prizemoney tally spiralling to $614,945.
“I was rapt to see her get to the front and then when I saw Paddy Wants Pats sitting on me, I wasn’t sure how strong it was and I thought we might be in a little bit of trouble here,” Tom Dailly said.
“But she railed beautifully turning for home and when you do that you kick a length away.”
WATCH: LALA KIWI (4) held out PADDY WANTS PATS (6) early before going on to record a brilliant all-the-way 29.63sec victory in the G1 Australian Cup Final.
The other feature races on Australian Cup night were:
- G1 TAB Fanta Bale Super Stayers (725m) – MEPUNGA RUBY (T: Jeff Britton)
- G3 GRV Vic Bred Maiden final (525m) – PLAINTIFF (T: Jason Thompson)
- G3 Country Championship final (525m) – LOVE THE CITY (T: Daniel Pell)
- TAB Australian Cup Consolation (525m) – ASTON RUPEE (T: Glenn Rounds)
Photos by Clint Anderson
