Winning trainer Joe Cleary labelled leading country jockey Mathew Cahill a genius after he guided Lucy Rose to victory in Sunday’s $100,000 Wellington Boot.
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In a dramatic race, three horses failed to finish, Cahill got Lucy Rose to the front early on and then couldn’t be caught as she raced down the hill and past the line.
Cleary was lost for words after the win, and there were hugs all-round to celebrate his first win in the two-year-old feature.
“It’s awesome. I picked this race out about three or four months ago and there’s nothing better than when a plan comes to fruition,” he said.
“It just ticks the boxes. It’s a race I’ve wanted to win.
“I came here a few years ago and got my arse kicked and said to myself I’m not coming back until I can win it and here we are.”
Cleary also couldn’t speak highly enough of Cahill, who was born and raised in Wellington and now has three Boots to his name.
Greg Ryan, who rode an early treble on Sunday, and Cahill are often described as masters of the Wellington track and the latter showed all his class in Lucy Rose’s convincing win.
“He’s a genius around these tracks,” Cleary said.
“I booked him a couple of weeks ago at Cowra to go and had to scratch her and asked him to stay for the Boot and he said okay and here were are. We’ve got the cash and we’re taking that Boot back to Queanbeyan.”
There was plenty of drama early on as both Dragoneight and Shudabeen bucked shortly after leaving the gates.
Winona Costin was thrown from Shudabeen and after much time on the turf she was diagnosed with a broken wrist and taken from the track.
Leon Davies’ Harmonic Lass also broken down before the midway point but at the front of the field Lucy Rose ($8) was right in control.
She hit the top of the straight and from there her lead only got better and she went on to score by three-quarters of a length.
“I wasn’t overconfident going in, there was a couple of unknown Sydney horses making their first start but Joe does a good job,” Cahill said after the win.
“He said she was fit and and has a lot of speed so told me to ride her forward try and get to the front.
“She didn’t have a lot of weight and she got to front early, she’s a quick little filly and from the top of the straight I thought she’s take some running down.
“It’s great. I’m a locally-born boy and I did my first few years here.
“My dad trained here for about 20 years. It was a race I always wanted to win and it took a awhile and now I’ve won three so its great.”
Princess Lottie ($15) ran home well for second while Boyish ($7), brought out from Rosehill by Gerald Ryan, was further back in third