Talented import Sacred Master has broken through for a maiden win in Australia this afternoon; producing a perfectly-timed sprint to take out the featured Group 3 Newcastle Gold Cup (2200m) this afternoon.
Hugh Bowman delivered a typically smart performance aboard Sacred Master to win the Newcastle Gold Cup this afternoon. Photo: Daniel Costello
Sacred Master was unlucky to finish a close second in the Listed Wyong Cup (2100m) a fortnight ago, but did his chances of going one better this afternoon no harm when jumping well and taking an ideal position in transit within the classy field.
Caught behind runners leading onto the final straight, leading hoop Hugh Bowman threaded the needle with the five-year-old before locking in a fierce sprint battle with Dee I Cee; pulling a head clear on the line to claim a second career black type win.
Bowman piloted a Chris Waller-trained horse to success in the 2015 Newcastle Cup when Beyond Thankful motored home for a comfortable win, and was thrilled to repeat the dose aboard Sacred Master this afternoon.
“It’s a great feeling – it’s a race I really tried to win a long time ago,” Bowman said after the race.
“My first black type winner was in fact a Wyong Cup, and last year I did the double on Beyond Thankful. I came up a little short on this bloke in the Wyong Cup, but he’s delivered today.
“I think he’s a more progressive type than Beyond Thankful was, so it will be interesting to see where he ends up.
“There was a nice bit of pressure early on but I was a bit more aware of him and put him to sleep early.
“I was aided by a really nice run in transit and he relaxed so well today, whereas at Wyong he was inclined to do a bit much.
“Today I was able to stay out of that speed battle, get him in his comfort zone and he delivered when it mattered.”
Punters who backed Sacred Master to win the 2016 Newcastle Gold Cup with Ladbrokes.com.au have been paid out on up to $4.60 odds for success!
2016 Newcastle Gold Cup Results
| Finish | No. | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Margin | Bar. | Weight | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | SACRED MASTER (NZ) | Chris Waller | Hugh Bowman | – | 6 | 56.5kg | $3.70 |
| 2 | 10 | DEE I CEE (NZ) | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Johan Victoire | 0.5L | 12 | 54kg | $14 |
| 3 | 1 | JUNOOB (GB) | Chris Waller | Brenton Avdulla | 1.5L | 9 | 59kg | $9 |
| 4 | 5 | SENSE OF OCCASION | Kris Lees | Tim Clark | 2.1L | 13 | 55.5kg | $6 |
| 5 | 8 | AMEXED (NZ) | Tony Gollan | Jim Byrne | 2.9L | 4 | 54kg | $14 |
| 6 | 9 | OLYMPIC ACADEMY | Kris Lees | Tommy Berry | 3.3L | 11 | 54kg | $31 |
| 7 | 3 | SINGING (FR) | Kris Lees | Kerrin McEvoy | 3.4L | 3 | 56.5kg | $3.40F |
| 8 | 11 | DOWDSTOWN CHARLIE | Kim Waugh | Andrew Gibbons | 3.7L | 1 | 54kg | $21 |
| 9 | 12 | LORD DISICK | Michael Moroney | Christian Reith | 3.9L | 5 | 54kg | $31 |
| 10 | 14 | QUARTERMASTER | Paul Perry | Matthew McGillivray (a) | 4.5L | 8 | 54kg | $101 |
| 11 | 7 | SLOW PACE (USA) | Kris Lees | Robert Thompson | 5.8L | 2 | 54.5kg | $19 |
| 12 | 6 | RULING DYNASTY | James Cummings | Glyn Schofield | 6.7L | 10 | 55kg | $18 |
| 13 | 15 | KINSMAN | Craig Roberts | Taylor Marshall (a) | 27.2L | 7 | 54kg | $201 |
