Our Jericho continued on his Cups collection trail at Victor Harbor on Sunday takings his tally to three since coming to Adelaide trainer Les Harding in January.
Our Jericho ($1.50 fav), driven by Danielle Hill, sat parked before proving too strong for stablemate, and last year’s winner Bettor Party ($3.30) in the UBET Victor Harbor Pacing Cup (2160m) scoring by six metres with Rap Artist ($7.80), 12-1/2 metres away third.
The win added to his Gawler and Port Pirie Cups, with five wins from his past six starts for Harding.
The eight-year-old is owned by Merv Butterworth who has a good record sending horses to South Australia.
Our Jericho had to break the track record to win recording 1:56.1 taking 0:1.8 off the previous best recorded by Bettor Party in his victory last year.
Reinsman Ken Rogers was aggressive early on Bettor Party coming out quickly from gate six, and after a short battle with Tezz Khora ($11) assumed control and then set a solid tempo ensuring the favourite would have to do a job to beat him.
Danielle Hill admitted when she saw Bettor Party had taken the lead she knew Our Jericho would be in for a tough race.
“When he took the front I thought this is going to be a bit of a contest,” Hill said.
“I started to shake Our Jericho up down the back, and few a few strides, thought it might be too big a task but then he picked up the bit and took after Bettor Party.
“I was surprised he was able to go past as easily as he did around the home turn, and thought it would be a real battle up the straight but he drew clear to win well.”
Trainer Les Harding said he was a little surprised Our Jericho had been able to beat Bettor Party as easily.
“I thought they would have a real battle but I guess it proves Our Jericho is going pretty well,” Harding said.
“Maybe Bettor Party is not going quite as well as he was 12 months ago, but the reality is the winner had to run a track record to win.”
Our Jericho is now likely to head for the Group 2 $50,000 Park Douglas Printing Mildura Pacing Cup (2600m) on Saturday, April 14.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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