Just Folk (+360) has led all the way to claim victory in the Group 3 Lord Mayor’s Cup at Eagle Farm as the Gavin Bedggood-trained galloper picked up his second victory in his last three starts.
With no out-and-out leader in the contest, Nash Rawiller took his mount to the front and rolled along at his own speed without being challenged during the 1800m race.
Zoumon (+2200) had to push forward after being trapped wide early from barrier eight; however, Rachel King was happy to trail the leader and not pressure him, with Converge (+3300) and Knights Choice (+1800) settling in third and fourth.
After running the race a at sedate tempo, Rawiller upped the ante before the home turn and quickly kicked clear of a struggling Zoumon.
Converge and Knights Choice looked as though they were going to run home strong to challenge the eventual winner, but he was never in any danger.
Territory Express (+700) was the only runner to make up ground from the back of the field as he flew home to nab third, splitting Converge and Knights Choice as they went over the line 1.4 lengths adrift of Just Folk.
2024 Lord Mayor’s Cup Replay – Just Folk
Gavin Bedggood was elated with the win and he spoke post-race.
“He’s had a great campaign and he’ll go to the paddock off that today,” Bedggood said.
“He’s qualified for The Big Dance next preparation and that wil be our target.
“He just stole the race, really.
“12.9, 12.6, he controlled the race and it was a really good watch.
“The horse won the race – he was too good – but when you can get away with sectionals like that it makes it pretty easy.”
“We mapped out a campaign months ago and there was the temptation to go to a Doomben Cup after he ran so well in the Hollindale but this was the game plan and we’ve stuck to it.
“It has been a fruitful preparation for everybody.”
Nash Rawiller brought up his first win on Queensland Derby Day and he spoke post-race.
“It is good to be on that type of horse,” Rawiller said of Just Folk.
“You can get away with a couple of soft ones (sectionals) midrace and it is great when you have the confidence to let them go well before straightening on a track like this because it is a long way home.
“To be fair he kept going for me and it felt like his last one was his best one. I was really proud of his effort today.
“His run there was outstanding and showed fight you wouldn’t believe when I won on him at Hawkesbury.
“Today, the sting right out of the track, he loves it.
“He never felt like he was going to get beat, to be honest.”
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