Longreach Cup a family tradition for Clark-Peoples

By Glenn Davis

Trainer Kristie Clark-Peoples is hoping to keep the Longreach Cup in the family name and celebrate a belated birthday with a two-pronged attack in the Central West feature on Saturday.

Clark-Peoples, who turned 51 on Thursday, is attempting to claim back-to-back Longreach Cups with last year’s winner Centaur while she has a powerful second stringer with the former John O’Shea-trained Persevere.

The Longreach Cup also marks the start of the qualifying heats for the Country Cups Challenge Final to be conducted at Doomben in December.

Clark-Peoples’ father Allan Clark, who now trains at Rockhampton, was based in the Central West town for many years and claimed the Longreach Cup six times.

Centaur and Persevere have stopped over in Longreach on their way home from the Birdsville Cup meeting at the start of the month.

Centaur – a Robert Faehr mount – won a 1400 metre Open Handicap at Aramac before an unlucky fourth in the Birdsville Cup, which was won by South Australian Neodium.

Persevere will be ridden by apprentice Nikki Olzard and is coming off a dominant eight length Class 3 level win at Birdsville.

Clark-Peoples had hoped to travel to Birdsville for the famous two-day Cup carnival before both her parents became ill.

“I was too frightened to go away as Dad had been unwell and had heart surgery while Mum had to have surgery for skin cancer,” she said.

“They’re both only in their 70’s.”

Clark-Peoples has done a great job with Centaur since taking over the training duties.

“When he first came to us he was a skinny barrier rat who was barred,” she said.

“I never thought he’d do much and here we are now with him racing in open company.

“Dad trained him for a while and won five races and since I’ve taken him on he’s won three times for me.”

While Centaur is a proven winner at Longreach, Clark-Peoples believes Persevere also will be hard to beat in his track debut.

“Persevere is pretty good and won by eight lengths in Birdsville,” she said.

“If he handles another dirt track he’ll be hard to beat but Centaur is the proven one.

“I have ridden them all in track work and they both feel very good.”

Clark-Peoples is hopeful both can make it to the Country Cups Challenge Final as she bids for an overdue win in the Brisbane feature.

“Centaur ran third in the Country Cups Challenge Final last year and Hi Harry ran third in it the year before,” she said.

“Hopefully, Centaur or Persevere can go on and win the Final this year.”