Waldron mare on song for Country Cup Challenge

By Jordan Gerrans

Country Cups Challenge qualifiers from around the state continue to deliver devastating performances from promising stayers.

Just seven days after Bernie’s Tiger bolted in on the sand at Moranbah by 11 lengths, Ben Waldron’s in-form mare Palate put 13.5 lengths on the field to claim the 2021 St George Cup on Saturday afternoon in striking fashion 

In the process, the Better Than Ready mare landed in the Country Cups Challenge Final at Doomben early next month with $105,000 on the line.

Palate held a strong lead as they turned for home over a mile in the Open Handicap and she just kept extending to the line.

It was a romp in the end, justifying her $1.70 favouritism with Gary Geran in the saddle – which was the second leg of his winning double for the afternoon.

“Palate is in a world of her own,” the St George race caller declared.

“There is no doubt about Palate qualifying.”

Roma trainer Waldron has the mare flying since she arrived in his stable just a few months ago.

“She raced well, but the track was pretty biased, which helped too,” Waldron said.

“She tries, which is one thing in her favour, I suppose, but the track certainly helped front runners.

“We have given her five starts for three wins and two seconds, we bought her for just $6,000 online.”

While Waldron has six gallopers in work at Roma, Palate’s connections are all based just a short drive from his stable in St George, which made for a happy bunch of owners – consisting mostly of the Wippell family - on course on Saturday afternoon.

“They are all happy, being from St George,” Waldron said.

“They were very happy to win the St George Cup.

“They had plenty of fun over the weekend.”

Waldron and Palate will now look towards the $45,000 Roma Cup this coming Saturday afternoon – which is also a Cups Qualifier – over 1640 metres before the mare will have a quick freshen up before the Final on December 4.

“Then she will have two weeks off into the Final,” Waldron said.

“All the owners will head down; it will be good for them.”

Also at St George Jockey Club on Saturday afternoon, local trainer Pat Webster landed consistent sprinter V J Day in the Country Stampede Final, bolting in by five lengths in an Open Handicap over 1000 metres.

In other qualifiers from across the state over the weekend, the Ricky Ludwig, Frank Edwards and Tycoon Thunder train keeps rolling along – winning their second Country Stampede qualifier at Ingham on Saturday.

The prolific trio have now won nine races together without defeat, and have claimed two recent qualifiers – Cooktown and Ingham.

They also ran second in the Atherton qualifier with the tough chestnut one of the best performed gallopers of the entire series so far.

Confident trainer Ludwig thinks his five-year-old gelding will be a big chance come the $75,000 Stampede Final on George Moore Stakes day at Doomben early next month.

“We need an alley,” Ludwig said.

“If we draw an alley, he will be real competitive.”

Experienced Townsville-based hoop Edwards has developed an infinity with the Ludwig sprinter and is excited to retain the ride for the Final in three weeks’ time.

“He deserves to be up in the market in the Final," Edwards said. 

“I have not looked who has been winning the other heats around the other areas of the state but I am happy to be on this one.”

Olivia Cairns’ Ammoudi Bay got the money in Sunday’s Mount Perry Cup, booking her spot in the County Cups Challenge Final after being beaten in two recent qualifiers around Queensland.

Qualifiers will be run at Clermont and Roma this weekend, which will be the last opportunities for bush gallopers to confirm their position in the big Final’s next month.