THE second day of the Mildura Cup Carnival was dominated by Ballarat trainer Henry Dwyer, who made the long trek worthwhile after achieving a winning treble at Sandilong Park on Saturday.
Dwyer started the meeting in winning form as he won the first two races on the program with Gaius, who was ridden by Jack Martinl, and Exlover, who showed he is a promising three-year-old with a solid win with jockey Jake Duffy.
Exlover is bred to be a smart horse as he is by the sire Exosphere out of the metropolitan winning mare Tale Of Love, who won a $250,000 Inglis 2YO Premier race during her short but impressive career.
Jockey Jake Duffy had a successful day as he also partnered The Siscos Kid to win the Sunraysia Daily Handicap, which was the final leg of Dwyer’s winning treble.
Dwyer had an enjoyable time in Mildura and is planning to return next year.
“I had a couple of place-getters on Cup day and it was terrific to get a few winners on Saturday. It was a very good carnival and it was good to be up here even though it was unfortunate there was no crowd,” Dwyer said.
“I had not been to Mildura for about 12-14 years and I am amazed how big Mildura has become. We were looked after so well during our time … and I will be back next year.”
The Siscos Kid started a short-priced favourite and was well ridden by Duffy, who settled the four-year-old just behind the speed and he made a wide move at the 800m mark. Once they hit the home straight he urged him for an effort and he proved too classy to record an impressive victory.
“He is a nice horse who has been slow maturing, and although he didn’t win by a big margin, he only does what he has to. I plan to target weaker races to get his confidence up,” Dwyer said.
The Siscos Kid was bought for $100,000 at the 2018 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale and the four-year-old has now taken his record to two wins and four placings from 10 starts with prizemoney of $65,177.
“He is from a good family, which is why I was keen to buy him, and I knew he was from a slow maturing breed. In time I believe he will go on to tackle city class races,” Dwyer said.
The Siscos Kid has achieved a win his mother, Seven Year Itch, could not as the dam had one start at the Mildura track in July 2010 and finished third.
There will be no more races until maybe nest Victoria Hil Saturday’s Moonee Valley meet due to a five-day break authorised by Racing Victoria in consultation with industry groups.
“I think it is good to have the break as it gives the chance to freshen up and I am looking forward to it,” Dwyer said.
The other winners on the seven-race program on Saturday were Savvy Sovereign, ridden by Linda Meech, Super Quick Love (Logan McNeil), Miss Kansas who had her first run for the Steven Noble stable at Kerang and El Fabio for the Kylie and Steve Vella stable.
The Tassie Pegus Award for the leading jockey over the two-day racing carnival was won by Dean Holland.
Holland did not ride at the meeting on Saturday as he had seven rides at Caulfield, but his top day out on Friday’s Cup day program with two wins, a second and a third was enough for him to win the title.
Mildura Racing Club’s next race meeting will be on Monday, August 9.
