Moree gelding Cool Rules salutes at famous Louth Cup meeting
MOREE trainer Peter Sinclair has put a whole new meaning to the term ‘have horse will travel’ in recent weeks and the miles logged finally paid dividends at the famous Louth Cup meeting on Saturday.
During the past two weeks, Sinclair has had runners at St George, Doomben (Brisbane), Toowoomba and Quirindi with mixed results and entrusted his son Nathan to head west to Louth with five-year-old gelding Cool Rules.
The seven-hour trip included an overnight stopover at Collarenebri to link up with trainer Kelly Smith, who also had a runner at the meeting.
“I couldn’t believe just how many people were at the races,” Sinclair said.
Nathan Sinclair and Cool Rules at Louth races on Saturday.
“It’s a trip I’ve always wanted to do, and the horse really travelled well.
“He’s the ideal horse for these types of meetings. He eats everything you put in front of him and can back up week after week,” he said.
The famous meeting, that draws a 4000-strong crowd, winds up a three-day carnival at the far western districts outpost that includes the Gundabooka Golf Challenge, where die-hard golfers chip and putt their way around the Louth’s nine-hole outback course with the aid of just one stick.
On cup day eve the Louth Public School holds an art-and-craft fair that includes Devonshire teas, a sausage sizzle, and massage and aromatherapy services.
The seven-race Louth Cup meeting is preceded by a calcutta and barbeque at Shindy’s Inn where the final pool traditionally exceeds $20,000.
Cool Rules (5-2), owned by a huge Moree syndicate, was asked to carry 60kg in the 1400m class 2 handicap but handled the weight comfortably.
The gelding, ridden by ace heavyweight hoop Kody Nestor, raced on the pace before forging clear in the straight to score by nearly two lengths from Warrior of Peace (7-1) with Choppa (5-1) a length away third.
“It was a good win, and Kody rode him well,” Sinclair said.