Tony McEvoy’s Albury Gold Cup success sparked an excellent weekend for Hawkesbury trainers, reports Racing NSW.

McEvoy followed his Albury triumph last Friday with another success yesterday at Muswellbrook, whilst fellow trainers Tara and Philippe Vigouroux and Connie Greig won respective races at Newcastle on Saturday and Wellington yesterday.

French import Kourkam (Kerrin McEvoy) clinched a Queensland winter carnival berth with his victory in the $170,000 Listed Albury Gold Cup (2000m).

/site/_content/image/00002902-image.jpg

 

Left: Five-year-old gelding Kourkam won the Listed Albury Gold Cup

Starting at $3.80, he outstayed Verdant ($6) and $3 favorite Self Sense.

A lightly-raced five-year-old gelding, Kourkam has started 13 times for five wins and three placings.
McEvoy is aiming him at the $650,000 Group 1 Doomben Cup (2000m) on May 9, with the Group 2 Hollindale Stakes (1800m) at the Gold Coast a fortnight earlier his likely lead-up.

Kourkam has come back in great order, winning two of his three starts since resuming.

He scored first-up over 1600m at Morphettville on February 28 before finishing a splendid third to classy mare Suavito in the Group 2 Blamey Stakes (1600m) at Flemington a fortnight later.

McEvoy also won with three-year-old Reaper in yesterday’s Maiden Plate (1500m) at Muswellbrook.
Ridden by Andrew Gibbons, Reaper ($2.80 favorite) romped away to trounce second favorite Stourhead ($3.20) by three lengths at only his sixth start.

Team Vigouroux had to wait until the last race at Broadmeadow on Saturday – but it was worth it.
Their representative, former New Zealander Uncle Sugar ($5), just got there in the Benchmark 65 Handicap (1850m).

Ridden by Hawkesbury apprentice Claire Nutman, Uncle Sugar edged out $4 favorite Strace in a tight finish and set a new class record.

Uncle Sugar, a son of Danroad, has won three of his 19 starts; but his record could easily be better as he has also notched seven minor placings.

The gelding was also an acceptor for yesterday’s Wellington Boot meeting, but connections clearly pulled the right rein by opting to go to Newcastle.

Whilst Uncle Sugar didn’t head to Wellington, Connie Greig certainly did – and came home a winner.
Her five-year-old mare Anytime Baby produced a determined finish to land the Benchmark 55 Handicap (1700m).

Ridden by Ken Dunbar and starting at $9, she charged down the outside from what seemed a hopeless position on straightening.

It was Anytime Baby’s fourth win from 40 starts, and she has also notched six placings.

Whilst at times her form hasn’t been consistent, she had run a good second to Koori Flyer in a similar class race over 1570m at Cessnock last Monday.

Anytime Baby’s previous victory was over 1600m at Mudgee in July last year.