THE $175,000 bet365 Swan Hill Cup over the classic mile was won in style by Aaron Purcell’s Dashing, with Declan Bates in the saddle.
Frustratingly it was oh, so close, for Swan Hill jockey Harry Coffey, who finished half a length behind.
The local rider has never won his home cup and this year it almost felt as if it was right there in his grasp.
But if Coffey could not quite crack the cup, the day opened on a fantastic high for Swan Hill, with Heath Chalmers setting his perennial bridesmaid Dougie’s Dream for the $40,000 Bottle O Maiden Plate over 975m.
With the race caller pointing out Dougie’s Dream flew out of the gates with a wing on every hoof.
And from there on it was simply a matter of by how much – and for a horse which had five seconds and a third in its 10-start career it would prove to be a whopping 3.5 lengths.
Equal race favourite Sternin, ridden by Coffey, could not make any impression in the straight and battled to hold second against the hard fighting Onya Sonya – the other equal favourite.
Ironically, Dougie’s Dream was the least wanted of the three pre-race top picks.
Speaking post-race Chalmers said his mare had been ultra consistent but too-often unlucky.
“We have taken her everywhere, from Geelong to Kyneton to Bendigo just trying to win a race with her,” Chalmers said.
“But she has come back in really good order this time and a big shout out to the owners who took it on and have been very patient.
“She’s always been ultra tough, so hopefully she can go on with it now.
“And the owners took this one on when their good mate Dougie Comb passed on and have had a lot of seconds, so it’s great to finally get a win.”
There are 20 people in the partnership which purchased the three horses Comb had before he died – and the dream has finally come true.
In the Cup, Dashing coming out of gate nine looked stranded wide early, but Bates soon pushed his way into the field and settled just off the two early pacemakers – which included 2023 cup winner Not Usual Glorious.
Which cornered beautifully into the straight and could have stolen a winning break.
However, Bates, who already had two winners on the day, wasn’t fooled and quickly laid down the challenge.
On a track now really chopped up, the field seemed to be going up and down on the one spot but when Coffey got clear on Holymanz and went after Dashing it brought the crowd to its feet.
But it simply wasn’t to be a fairytale finish; Dashing dug deep and won by half a length.
If you think Coffey might be a little frustrated, Prince of Helena, in third, racked up its fourth placing in a Swan Hill Cup in the past five years.
Annoyingly, none of those have been the first placing.
Dashing was Aaron Purcell’s and Declan Bates’ third combined winner for the day.
Before winning the Cup they also took out races five and seven.
But Bates had gone one better, earlier in the meeting he had also won the $40,000 Federal Hotel Swan Hill Plate over 1600m for Henry Dwyer to make it four on the day – and five for the carnival.
A triumphant Purcell said his horse had been “super tough”.
“He came under pressure before the turn and really had to fight, and he did that all the way to the line,” he added.
“Not Usual Glorious is a tough horse to pass and once they came off the bridle I thought it is a long straight here at Swan Hill.
“So I thought someone was going to come from the back and run over the top of us, but just super tough to the line.
“Every horse had their chance, and he was just the best one on the day.”
Bates seemed a bit overwhelmed he had picked up four winners on the day – and a Swan Hill Cup.
The Irish jockey joked he was bred for the conditions – cold, wet and windy – adding it was “just fantastic to pick up a race like this”.
“Aaron’s horses have been flying today so I was very lucky to be on board,” Bates said.
“And Dashing (a five-year-old gelding) is just such a real tough old warrior, so I am very happy.
“I was confident a long way out that I had the leader covered because he was travelling so well underneath me.
“Today even in the mounting yard I was filled with confidence, he really grabbed the bit and towed me to the start, so I knew we were on.”
