Racing
Moruya trainer Steve Stephens turned the clock back 22 years to win his second Bega Cup with Domidor, who led all the way to take out this year’s $27,000 Bega Cheese Bega Cup at the Sapphire Coast Turf Club on Sunday.
Stephens, 70, won his first Bega Cup at the old Bega course in 1990 with Canny Garinsky when he was one of the region’s leading trainers.
After nearly 10 years off the scene, Stephens returned recently as a hobby trainer with only a couple of horses in work in his stables.
Domidor ($13) was a dominant winner over the testing 1600 metre journey, disputing the lead all the way with local hope and cup favourite Brimstone ($4) before pulling clear over the last 200 metres to score by three-quarters of a length from last year’s winner Quichang ($4.40) with Sydney galloper Equable ($7) from the Gerald Ryan stable third a further long neck away with Brimstone fourth.
Domidor, owned by Stephens son, Matthew, who purchased the horse at the Sydney sales just over a year ago for $2,200, put the writing on the wall with his impressive win here over 1600 metres at the January 2 TAB meeting.
“He had been working well for us at home so that win was not a surprise and we then set him for the Bega Cup,” Stephens said. “The plan now is to bring him back to the Sapphire Coast for the Merimbula Cup in March.”
Stephens said his choice of apprentice Natasha Winton to take the ride in the big race had been one of those happy associations which happen in racing. He had been looking for a claiming apprentice on the eight-year-old gelding for an earlier race, and Winton has now ridden the horse four times for two wins and two third placings.
Asked which of his Bega Cup wins – 22 years apart – had given him the most pleasure, Stephens said, “They were both pretty good. I am pretty happy about it.”
Other highlights of an outstanding days racing in fine, warm weather on Sunday was the winning treble for leading Canberra-based jockey Brendan Ward, a double to Canberra trainer Matthew Dale and the first winner of her career for another young apprentice, Amy Van Der Sanden.
For those fortunate enough to buy tickets in the Punters Club, run by Sydney Racing and Sports editor Chris Scholtz, the $91.40 dividend for their $20 investment was also a very good result.
The day also featured a brilliant win – his 10th from only 25 starts - by Beyond Expectations in the $18,000 Carlton Mid Bega Town Plate over 1200 metres.
Canberra trainer John Nisbet, whose apprentice daughter Kayla led all the way aboard the high quality sprinter, said that his future may include races on Canberra’s big Black Opal Stakes Day meeting next month or in Sydney.
Shoalhaven trainer Terry Robinson, who has also won two Bega Cups - with Danebar in 2006 and Star Varrick in 2002 - added the $18,000 Ord Minnett Sapphire Coast Cup to his trophy cabinet with a dominant win by Hustle over the 2200 metre staying trip.
Beyond Expectation ($5) scored by a neck from I’ve Got a Secret ($21) which flashed home along the fence from last on the turn, in second place with a head to Jondaborg ($5.50) third.
Hustle ($3.70) stamped his staying credentials by blitzing the field in the Sapphire Coast Cup, coming right away in the straight to score by three-and-three-quarter lengths from Gee Eff Cee ($7) from the Sydney stable of Greg McFarlane) with Star Hawk ($5.50) a neck away third. Story continues page 58.
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