12 November 2018 | TERRY NEIL
IN scenes reminiscent of Cup Day successes at Flemington, and one Cup win in particular, Delilaah’s thrilling last-stride win in Friday’s Star-Trek Final prompted an exuberant and very touching celebration from her connections.
The Bettors Delight mare had settled four-pegs in a very fast-run affair, before working clear around the turn and producing an exceptional sprint down the outside of the track to grab favourite and leader Ominous Warning right on the line. A true heart-stopping finish.
Delilaah is raced by four Sydney mates, and three of them – Joe Borg, Mitch Dickens and Ken Quigley – were leaping about on the lawns, hugging and high-fiving just like those Flemington winners many had seen on television all week
While all this was going on, Craig Chesham stood quietly, trying to hold his emotions in check, and turning his head skywards as he crossed himself.
Straightaway to mind came Damien Oliver’s 2004 Melbourne Cup triumph with Media Puzzle, and that famous image of “Ollie” looking up after passing the post and raising his whip in salute to his brother, who had died tragically just a week earlier.
This Bathurst acknowledgement was also to a dear brother.
Robbie Chesham was one of the original syndicate which purchased Delilaah in January this year, and he celebrated her first -up success at Bathurst in February , and her subsequent win in the Lombo La Fe Fe Vase during the Gold Crown Carnival in March.
The brothers lived at The Oaks, not far from Menangle, and Robbie got to see plenty of their latest pride and joy whenever she was enjoying a spell in a paddock just opposite their place. Every morning, first thing, he would go check on the filly, which would whinny as soon as she spotted him.
She was spelling there when Robbie passed away in June. Several hundred people attended his burial service out at The Oaks, very close to where he’d lived. As the service was taking place, the filly in the nearby paddock came right down to the closest corner, and kept up her whinnying for quite a long time.
Just interested in the large crowd of people, or saying her goodbyes to Robbie? The owner who related this detail has no doubt which it was.
And when the filly resumed after that break, her first-up win at Penrith was particularly emotional for everyone in the stable, with trainer-driver Michael Muscat’s winning salute right up there with that Damien Oliver tribute.
Friday’s presentation, which included the full family and staff complement from Bedwells Feed Barn, the race sponsors, ended on a musical note. Part-owner Mitch Dickens belted out the one line he knows – he’s promised to learn all the words for his next performance – from the Tom Jones hit song of yesteryear.
Craig Chesham enjoyed the rendition, though his musical preference might have been for Dionne Warwick and “Say A Little Prayer For Me.”
Micky Muscat made it a driving double when scoring an all-the-way win with Majesticintherain in C0 class, while Nathan Turnbull’s double came with Power Of Red in the fast class and Hit The Track, for brother Josh, resuming in a 3YO and older maiden class.
Lucky Nutter ( Wendy/Emma Turnbull) backed up from its heat win to take out the $10,000 Rewards Series Final. The winner is a tough type which is not a natural leader, but her concentration was helped by the persistence of Sophie Brown in the death seat, fighting all the way to the line.
Other winners from the meeting were Castalong Shadow ( Geoff Simpson) and Myra Dawn ( Steve /Amanda Turnbull ) which extended their winning sequences; Limbo Larry ( Jed Betts) which enjoyed the hot pace to come over the top of some very tired rivals in this C1/C2 division; and Letsgotothehop NZ, which earned Drive of the Night honours from Fred Hastings, and career win number 505, for impressive young reinsman Chris Geary.
Gold Crown Paceway has a short recess from racing until Wednesday fortnight, November 28, when the heats of the Bathurst RSL Soldiers Saddle Series will be the highlight.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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