Graham Fischer

TATTIES got the chips for Gawler trainer Andrew Beswick at the Labor Day Cup meeting conducted by the Gawler & Barossa Jockey Club on Monday.
Before an excellent holiday crowd, Tatties, ridden by apprentice Margaret Collett, landed some big bets in her win in the Hyland Sportswear Benchmark 54 Handicap over 1700m.
The six-year-old mare was backed from as much as $15 to start at $6 in its three-quarters-of-a-length winning effort from Uncle Bob ($21) with Don’t Dismiss ($2.70 favourite), over a length away in third.
The victory was a boost for Beswick who is on the mend himself after back surgery.
“I had the initial operation back in February, but it still didn’t feel right,” Beswick said.
“I went in again three weeks ago and had another operation and this time I am feeling great – even better after the win.”
Tatties is raced on lease by Beswick and his partner Clare Smallridge, with the mare winning her only other race at Bordertown on February 22 last year.
Beswick said he felt today’s race suited Tatties, which carried only 52kg after jockey Collett’s 2kg claim.
The main event, the Be Bushfire Ready Labor Day Cup over 3000m, was won by Matas, trained by Michael Hickmott and ridden by Jess Eaton.
Apart from being a heat of the Skybeau Series, it was also a qualifying race for the Jericho Cup which will be run at Warrnambool in December.
Matas ($3.40) scored a one-and-a-quarter length win from Victorian Wil John ($2.05 favourite) with Magus Man ($81) seven lengths away in third.
The Gawler & Barossa Jockey Club will run another distance race at its next meeting where the winner will be guaranteed a start in the Jericho Cup.
Hickmott said he would almost certainly run Matas in that event to try and ensure a start in the cup, and spoke he came upon the promising long-distance horse.
“I can’t just rely on the points she earned today,” Hickmott said.
“I had a two-year-old out of Rainfalls which was the fastest horse I have trained.
“So, I bought that mare, and she delivered this mare, but they both nearly died at foaling.
“While the other foal was an out-and-out speedster, all this mare wants to do is stay.”
At Monday’s meeting, the G&BJC also presented trophies to last season’s top jockey (Todd Pannell), trainer (Grant Young), Gawler trainer (Darren Magro) and Horse Of The Year (Scare Campaign).
The club’s next meeting will be the 2020 Holdfast Gawler Cup day on Friday, October 23.