Saturday’s meeting at Mendooran will live fondly in Melissa Harrison’s memory, as she enjoyed multiple milestones.
Bringing up the 100th victory of her career and winning back-to-back Country Cups, Harrison watched on as Glowing Rapids followed up his recent win in the Gulargambone Cup to claim the time-honoured Mendooran Cup (1200m).
Stable apprentice Jess Del Frari was in the saddle again, and the pair raced just off the early speed before finding the front after turning for home.
From there, Glowing Rapids ($5.50) landed a thrilling victory by a head from the Craig Martin-trained He’s My Warrior (Juliet Partridge, $4.20), while two lengths away in third was the Jane Clement-trained Chicken Legs (Billy Cray, $6).
The result capped off a huge week for the team and, for Harrison, allowed her to join the century club, having now prepared 100 winners.
“It was really special,” Harrison said.
"Especially with it being Glowing Rapids, as he has been a really good horse for us, and for (owner) John Laidlaw, who has been a huge part of our stable since we came to Forbes.
“Plus, I think Rocky (Glowing Rapids) can really put some wins on the board in the next year or so.”
The six-year-old Valentia gelding is now a six-time winner, with his career earnings creeping toward the $120,000 mark.
The Forbes galloper got no favours at Mendooran either, having carried an extra 5.5kg following his Gulargambone Cup triumph, which Harrison believes is a testament to the gelding’s ability and tenacity.
“He went up 5.5kg even though he only got three points after Gulargambone; he probably wasn’t entitled to win,” Harrison said.
“The race at Mendooran was probably harder than it was at Gulargambone, but he’s tough.
“He had done so well after Gulargambone and was eating and bouncing around the box, his work was so strong and he ran right up to it at Mendooran.”
With spring and summer ahead, Harrison believes Glowing Rapids will have plenty of opportunities to add more Country Cups to the mantlepiece.
“He likes tracks that are firm underfoot, and he will probably get out to 1400m now that he has added another string to his bow and can take a sit in those sorts of races,” Harrison said.
While Glowing Rapids stole the show at Mendooran, the stable did land a winning double as Pattera scored a well-deserved victory in the 1000m Benchmark 50 Handicap.
Del Frari was the winning jockey as the pair got the job done in front of the boisterous crowd.
The six-year-old Zoustar gelding, who started out in the care of John O’Shea, has been another nice find for connections, having won four races and earned over $60,000.
Harrison and the team are keeping their options open this week, with stable stalwart Bobby’s Secret set to return at either Griffith on Saturday or Wellington on Tuesday, while fellow stablemates Kelilah and Pattera also have nominations in.
Words: Jeff Hanson