Record breaking Victorian horseman Darren Weir continued his domination at The ‘Bool enjoying his fourth straight Warrnambool Cup win with High Church saluting for the punters in outstanding fashion on Thursday afternoon.
Darren Weir’s 2017 Warrnambool Cup winner High Church (pictured at Caulfield) could be Caloundra Cup-bound in Queensland this winter. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.
Dubbed ‘The King of the ‘Bool’, Weir has now won the Warrnambool Cup on five occasions including the past four on the trot with Master Of Arts (2016), Tall Ship (2015), Akzar (2014) and now High Church.
The punters came for High Chaparral six-year-old High Church in a big way to win this season’s $200,000 Listed Sungold Milk Warrnambool Cup (2350m) and the former Lloyd Williams-owned stayer didn’t disappoint.
Last time out the horse was brave in defeat running fourth at Caulfield on April 15 in the Group 3 Easter Cup (2000m).
Relishing the step up in distance and the Heavy (8) track conditions in the Warrnambool Cup, High Church powered home for a six length annihilation of his rivals.
“We targeted this race a while ago and got him there in great shape,” Weir said.
“His action would suggest that he’d appreciate a bit of give in the ground…so I thought that the ground would’ve been ideal.”
Jockey Damian Lane gave the galloper a perfectly-timed and patient ride at the back of the field throughout before getting onto the right part of the track to fly home out wide.
“He made my job very easy,” Lane said post-win.
“He was turned out in great order by the Weir team and I was just a enger.”
Settled second last throughout, High Church was switched off as the likes of Super Mover and Survived led the Warrnambool Cup field around.
On the back straight the Archie Alexander-trained Zed seven-year-old Survived injected pace into the race moving across to lead by around three lengths.
With 600m left to go, all eyes were on the cruising High Church who was travelling very sweetly into the turn on the back of his stablemate Unfurl.
The top fancy was quickly on the scene down the extreme outside, jogging home to hit the lead at the 200m and race away for the barnstorming success.
“The way he let down turning for home, I knew nothing was going to get near him,” Lane said of High Church.
“It’s a big thrill.”
Backmarker and 60kg top weight Observational for John Sadler was brave in defeat also making up all the ground late to finish second on the back of wins in the Bendigo Golden Mile and Easter Cup.
Rounding out the Warrnambool Cup trifecta in third was the fellow Weir-trained Unfurl, the last start Bendigo winning Raise The Flag mare having come into the straight right off the track to finish in the money.
Survived meanwhile held on for fourth to complete the First Four past the post in this year’s Warrnambool Cup results.
Weir confirmed plans to head north with High Church to target the second tier staying races of the Queensland Winter Racing Carnival.
“Those good staying races over the Brisbane Carnival, obviously not at the top end, but a race like the Caloundra Cup. That sort of race would be a nice race to set him for,” Weir said.
The $175,000 Listed Caloundra Cup (2400m) takes place at the Sunshine Coast on July 1.
To back High Church next race and to access all the best Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival odds and offers head to Ladbrokes.com.au.
2017 Warrnambool Cup Results & Finishing Order
Warrnambool Race 8 – 04/05/2017
| Place | # | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Margin | Br. | Wgt. | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 | HIGH CHURCH (IRE) | Darren Weir | Damian Lane | – | 10 | 56kg | $2.40F |
| 2 | 1 | OBSERVATIONAL (GB) | John Sadler | Craig Newitt | 6L | 8 | 60kg | $5.50 |
| 3 | 12 | UNFURL (NZ) | Darren Weir | Dean Yendall | 7.75L | 2 | 54kg | $10 |
| 4 | 9 | SURVIVED (NZ) | Archie Alexander | Dean Holland | 12.75L | 12 | 54kg | $10 |
| 5 | 8 | REIGNING | Eric Musgrove | Ms Nikita Beriman | 13.5L | 4 | 54kg | $101 |
| 6 | 5 | ARALDO JUNIOR (GER) | Michael Moroney | Patrick Moloney | 16L | 1 | 54.5kg | $18 |
| 7 | 2 | GREY LION (IRE) | Matt Cumani | Craig Williams | 17.5L | 5 | 59kg | $7 |
| 8 | 14 | SUPER MOVER (NZ) | Jane Baker | Declan Bates | 17.7L | 11 | 54kg | $41 |
| 9 | 13 | STELLARIZED | Quinton Scott | Craig Robertson | 19.2L | 3 | 54kg | $61 |
| 10 | 7 | DANCES ON STARS (NZ) | Grant Young | Daniel Moor | 19.7L | 7 | 54kg | $51 |
| 11 | 11 | YOUL DASH FOR CASH | Peter Gelagotis | Jye McNeil | 29.7L | 6 | 54kg | $15 |
| 12 | 6 | DYLANSON | Todd Balfour | Jake Bayliss (a) | 30.7L | 9 | 54.5kg | $101 |
| – | 10 | GOLD MEDALS (NZ) | Symon Wilde | Ms Linda Meech | – | 0 | – | – |
| – | 4 | BRING SOMETHING | Ken Keys | Beau Mertens (a) | – | 0 | – | – |
