by Duane Ranger
The gelding who finished ninth behind Christen Me in last year’s Easter Cup has now won his very own cup at Easter.
Tijuana Bromac not only won the $12,000 South Taranaki Club Hawera Cup on the Hawera Grass on Monday, but two days earlier he also nailed the Egmont Tyre $5,000 lead-up race.
The Falcon Seelster gelding was just one of three horses to win on both days. The other two were the Tony Herlihy (MNZM) trained and driven Ohoka Darcy and the Peter Scaife trained Jackalack Sue.
For 60-year-old Blenheim trainer Anne-Marie Best it was her second Country Cup – with the same horse.
“He won the Otaki Cup in 2013. That was my first Cup and now this is my second. I’m so happy for him. He’s a lovely horse but picked up a terrible virus after the Easter Cup last year. He’s only really just come right in the last nine weeks. After the Reefton meeting earlier this month he felt like his old self again.
“It was a big ask for him to win on both days, especially on Monday when he started from the longest handicap. I’m so proud of him. He’s the best horse I have raced,” said Best who co-owns the 7-year-old with her husband Jeremy.
In fact it was hubby who made the trip north to Taranaki with Tijuana Bromac while Best watched the race from her New Renwick Road property.
Driver Sailesh Abernethy stepped the gelding away nicely from his sole 30m back mark. They then whipped around to take the lead with just under a lap remaining. They dictated all the pace to win the 3000m standing start event in 3:56.7 (mile rate 2:06.9). He came home in 59.8 and 29.6.
Tijuana Bromac was the $9.40 fourth favourite and hung on to win by half a length and half a length from roughie Chillysjustastrutter (David Butcher) and Lucia Bromac (Peter Ferguson). It was his 12th win in 71 starts and took his stake earnings past the $80,000 mark.
Tijuana Bromac will now remain in the Taranaki where he will compete in the Country Cups Final at New Plymouth on Friday.
“He will have a rest for a few weeks after that and then possibly go to Nicky Chilcott’s Cambridge stable where he might start at races at Cambridge and Alexandra Park over the winter,” said Best.
“I’d love to see him race up there, especially Alexandra Park because I’ve never had a starter there.
“But first let me take this win in. I’m so humbled to have won another Country Cup with him after all the illness he has been through. He’s a lovely horse with a lovely personality and I’m pleased that he is now reaping his reward,” she said.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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