Maddie Raymond and Harry Grace have combined to take out their maiden Listed Warrnambool Cup victory, with Rolls getting the better of Not Usual Glorious and Swords Drawn in the 2350m event.
The win gave Raymond a double on the final day of the Warrnambool Racing Carnival after Home Rule won earlier in the day, and gave Grace his maiden win at the ‘Bool.
Rolls, a son of Anacheeva, who jumped at $11 with online bookmakers, was aiming to go a couple better after he ran just two days ago in the Vale Dean Holland Handicap over 1700m, running second to Independent Road.
With Raymond taking out the Warrnambool Cup and Aaron Purcell taking out the last race of the day with Pythagoras, it gave the local trainers 14 winners from a total of 30 races across the three days.
Even though Raymond was on track for the success of Home Rule, the Warrnambool trainer had to leave early to catch a flight to Spain for a family wedding.
2023 Listed Warrnambool Cup Replay
“Maddie was pretty confident … after the run on Tuesday I think she was quite keen to get him out to the cup and the proof was in the pudding,” stable representative Brady McArdle said.
“She’s a very good trainer on the up and she’s got some nice wins with some nice horses and I’m sure there’ll be more to come in the future.”
The win handed young jockey Harry Grace his first Stakes winner and his smile post-race said it all.
“Honestly, I’m a little lost for words. Everyone says that last 100(m) when you hit the front lasts a long time and my god did that feel like forever,” Grace said.
“Last start Johnny (Allen) beat me in the Terang Cup on another horse and I thought I was going to catch him and when I saw him in front at the 600 (metre mark) I thought I wasn’t going to let him do it again.
“It’s unreal. I woke up this morning and I was sitting there thinking I’d love the Warrnambool Cup to stay in Warrnambool this year.”
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