By Doug Ryan
A DARING ride by 25-year-old Casino apprentice Kasie Stanley on Muswellbrook gelding Kinetics (5-1) in the $22,000 Sky Gold Promim Australia Wauchope Cup thwarted a hometown victory and a memorable winning treble for trainer Neil Godbolt at Port Macquarie Racecourse on Sunday.
Stanley was having her first ride at the course and whereas jockeys all day were favouring the outside of the track in the straight, Stanley steered a course on the unused middle of the track to outstay Godbolt's three-year-old filly Better Not Doubt (5-2 to 2-1) which was gallant in defeat under her big weight at the Wauchope Jockey Club's TAB meeting.
The trainer of Kinetics, Graham Payne, had to get permission off stewards for Stanley to ride his five-year-old galloper as apprentice Matthew Powell had been engaged but was unable to make the trip.
He was elated to win the cup with Stanley only having her 11th and most memorable win.
Only two gallopers outside the Mid North Coast Racing Association were in the cup and once again a hometown win wasn't to be with Better Not Doubt, ridden by apprentice Cassie Schmidt, being afforded a handy ride but failed by a length, the first two placegetters more than four lengths in front of the rest of the field with Port's Nevzlin (9-2), trained by Wayne Wilkes, taking third.
A hometown victory was last posted in 2008 when Seen Im scored in the cup for the late Pat Quinn.
It was Kinetics 8th win and took the gelding's earnings to $123,680,Payne saying that the purchase price of $15,000 had 'well and truly' been eclipsed.
The horse was originally brought from Melbourne and now will tackle the South Grafton Cup.
Godbolt was happy with the run of Never Doubt Me and may also go north for the South Grafton Cup if his filly takes no harm from the run.
Overall, he had a good day with two wins and another placing, that being third with three-year-old filly Al Madam behind Coffs Harbour filly Don't Get Me Rong.
His wins were with Le Gaze (10-9on), ridden by Schmidt, in the M & S Offset and Duke of Letchworth (11-8),one of two winners for Port jockey Marlon Dolendo, in the NBN Television Maiden Plate over 1512m.
Six-year-old gelding Le Gaze was given a cosy run by Schmidt to score easily by just over two lengths and notch her 15th win.
Dolendo had a battle on his hands with runner-up, four-year-old Wauchope mare Skinnie Minnie (9-1), but then forged clear nearing the line for a hard fought long neck win on Duke Of Letchworth.
Godbolt said Duke Of Letchworth had done a good job as the gelding also had a tough run at Kempsey for second last week.
Dolendo's other win was on Taree five-year-old gelding Cyclone Cass (15-4),trained by Bob Milligan,which led all the way for a half-length win in the Hastings Co-Operative Limited Class 1 Handicap over 1012m.