GRAHAM FISCHER

SOUTH-EAST mare Majestic Ridge put in a brilliant effort to land the 2019 Goldin Farms Barossa Cup (2118m) at the Gawler racecourse last Wednesday.

Owned and trained by Millicent farmer Scott McIntyre, Majestic Ridge ($31), ridden by Sairyn Fawke, stormed home to score a two-and-a-quarter-length win from Karaoke Express ($3.90), with
Eperdument ($4.40) a half-length away in third.

“I nearly didn’t make the trip,” McIntyre said.

“She ran last at Casterton in Victoria (last) Sunday and I wondered whether it was worth coming.

“Thinking about it though, she was not given a chance that Sunday and she does go well for Sairyn.

“He keeps working on her and she responds to his riding.

“The tempo (on Wednesday) was ideal, and he brought her home with a perfect run to win.”

McIntyre races the winner on lease from fellow farmer Chris Bowman who lives “just down the road”.

Goldin Farms, the Angaston-based thoroughbred stud farm, sponsored the 2019 Barossa Cup for the last time on the day.

Gawler & Barossa Jockey Club chairman John Hatch revealed after a fouryear association, Goldin Farms had decided to cease their involvement.

“Goldin Farms has been a wonderful sponsor for our club, and we are sorry to lose them, but respect their decision and wish them well,” he said.

In another event on the day, Vacant Block indicated he was a galloper of some potential with an easy win in the Festival Hire Maiden (1718m).

Trained in partnership at Murray Bridge by Oopy MacGillivray and Dan Clarken, Vacant Block ($1.95 fav) raced away to win by nearly five lengths from Allayez ($5), with Frank Goes Boom ($15) finishing third.

The winner was ridden by Todd Pannell, who recently celebrated his first Group One victory on Despatch in the Goodwood Handicap.

Pannell told the co-trainers that despite the ease of the win, Vacant Block had still been a bit green in the run home.

Anyone who took the short quote on favourite Iscariot in the Kingsford Hotel Two-Year-Old Maiden (1100m) could be forgiven for thinking they had done their money on the home turn.

But jockey Jake Toeroek encouraged Iscariot ($1.55) to respond and the gelding did to score a length win from Kishstar ($7.50) and Iknow Where Youliv ($3.80).

The winner is part-owned by Gawler identity Peter Mclean.

Punters who backed Chuckles from $41 into $18 would have been laughing when the five-year-old took out the Gawler & Barossa Jockey Club Life Members Trophy.

It was a good result for Strathalbyn trainer Grant Kluske, who prepared the winner and third placegetter.

Hard ridden by Paul Gatt, Chuckles won by one-and-a-half lengths from Cobbers Mate ($26), with Jarrvis ($101) a half-length away third.

The next Gawler meeting will be on Wednesday, June 5.