Wangaratta galloper Eamonn’s Memory scored a district Cups double when he snatched victory in the last stride to win the Deniliquin RSL Club Deniliquin Gold Cup on Saturday.
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The Andrew Dale trained seven year-old gelding, ridden by Josh Richards and sent out a $4 equal favourite in the local Cup, appeared to be too far back in the straight despite being well positioned for most of the race.
But it stormed late, grabbing Chosen Venture from Nathan Hobson’s Swan Hill stable on the line.
The camera had to separate the pair, after it appeared to the naked eye that Chosen Venture was able to resist the surge.
The early leader, Black Adam, held on for third.
The Per Incancto gelding took his earnings to over $¼ million three weeks ago when he won the 2025 Jerilderie Gold Cup, and recorded his 13th win from 78 starts on Saturday.
Part owner Adrian Grantham after the race described Eamonn’s Memory as “a great country horse … he’ll race anywhere”.
Jockey Josh Richards said the horse “was very good today; presented well”.
"We got in a good spot early, and then he obviously was able to finish well,“ Richards continued.
“Thanks to Deni Race Club and the community for this great event.
“And well done to the owners and Andrew Dale, they've done a great job with him.”
Dale and Richards took the training and jockey honours on the six-race program with a winning double, plus a second placing.
However, the riding highlight was left to the last race when young apprentice Cassidy Hill scored her maiden race victory aboard Gargantuan with a daring, front running ride, surging ahead at one point by about eight lengths before cruising to the line with a five-length margin on the post.
It capped off a brilliant day of local racing, with the crowd enjoying glorious spring weather and plenty of entertainment including popular Fashions on the Field, led by colourful MC Sam Hall.
Punters were on the ball with three favourites getting the major prize, and all winners well supported in the market.
Despite the dry weather in the lead-up to the event, the track was in excellent condition, with fast times recorded.
The club acknowledged the work of the track management team, as well as improvements including installation of a new irrigation supply system, thanks to a contribution from the Race Club Trust, with additional support.
Without this work, track preparation in the dry conditions would have been extremely difficult, and shows ongoing efforts by the Racing Club to improve the track and surrounds are paying dividends.
The day started with the JCB Australia Maiden Handicap over 1000m, won impressively by top-weight and second favourite Nepela at only his second race start.
He powered to the lead early and the result was never in doubt, winning by more than five lengths from favourite Macristal House, with the Gwenda Johnstone trained Wayne’s Dream in third place.
The winner is trained at Wangaratta by Dan McCarthy and was ridden by apprentice Caitlin Hollowood.
In race two, the White Lion Hotel Benchmark 50 Handicap, Benalla mare Pretty Penguin ($5) appreciated a drop in class.
Like the first winner, the mare led most of the way and was able to hang on from the fast-finishing favourite Turnaquid, with topweight Controversial Miss doing well to overcome a wide barrier and get home into third place.
The winner is trained by Olivia Osborne and ridden by apprentice Thomas Spillane, with the placegetters both trained out of Wangaratta, by Andrew Dale and Craig Weeding respectively.
The first favourite to win was in race three, the Australian Food & Agriculture and Elders Rural Deniliquin Maiden Plate over 1400m.
Quick Spell was a well supported $2.70 top elect after placings at Leeton and Wangaratta at his previous two starts.
The Per Incanto gelding, trained by Andrew Dale and ridden by Josh Richards, relished a step up in distance and came home strongly to grab pacesetters Simone’s Choice and Rub Of The Green and win by a narrow margin.
The talent of apprentice jockeys was on display throughout the afternoon, and none more so than in race four, the Hunter Landale Memorial Class 1 Handicap.
Makisha Salter made the most of an inside barrier and took a rails run in the straight to score on the Nathan Hobson trained Calm Down Sheriff.
Kahungunu was the first of two second-placings for Kilmore trainer Tyson Barton and jockey Jade Darose, and the Matt Ivill trained Platinum Executive, ridden by Thomas Spillane, finished third.
Race five was the aforementioned Deniliquin RSL Club Deniliquin Cup.
In the final event on the six race card, young apprentice Cassidy Hill took the favourite Gargantuan to an early lead in the 1600m Taskers Deniliquin Class 3 Handicap and stretched it to about eight lengths before the home turn.
The Erin Maher trained gelding gave nothing else a chance, with the margin still more than five lengths on the line from second favourite Where Ya Bean, with the Rhys Archard trained Babble On in third place.
This capped off a brilliant day of country racing, though the socialising wasn’t finished.
Punters also had a good day at the major meetings in Sydney and Melbourne.
The world’s best sprinter Ka Ying Rising showed his class to win the $20 million The Everest at Royal Randwick, while hot favourite Half Yours took out the time-honoured Caulfield Cup.