It was a win that had special Anzac Day significance for Alternate in the Deniliquin RSL Club Diggers Cup on Saturday.
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The six-year-old gelding’s part-owner, Craig Kirkpatrick, is related to John Simpson Kirkpatrick, who famously used a small donkey to carry men down from the front line at Gallipoli, often exposing himself to fire.
The bravery of this "man with the donkey" soon became the most prominent symbol of Australian courage and tenacity at Gallipoli.
Craig Kirkpatrick’s grandfather George was a brother of John Simpson Kirkpatrick.
It was an exciting finish to the main race on the six-event program. Hydrogen Power, which led most of the way, appeared to have the race in its keeping when it kicked about four lengths clear at the top of the home straight.
But under the vigorous riding of Serbia-born jockey Milos Bunjevac, who moved to Australia about four years ago, Alternate was able to run down the leader and win the cup by the narrowest of margins.
“We didn’t think he'd won,” Kirkpatric said.
“In the straight, we thought he was well and truly beaten.”
Kirkpatrick bought Alternate 18 months ago after he did not get a bid at an auction.
"Stacey (trainer Stacey Kirkpatrick) has done a lot of work with him, and they just love one another. He's got a lot of personality; 12 months ago, he put me in hospital, so he still owes me.
“But we’re absolutely ecstatic. This is a terrific day, well done to Deniliquin Racing Club, and to everyone coming out supporting the day," he said.
Race one on Saturday’s program was the Mel Hutchins and Sir Boom Maiden Handicap over 1000m, which saw the Snippetson three-year-old Kgalagadi show a form reversal with aggressive riding tactics.
Jockey Chelsea Taylor took the early lead on the gelding, which had been beaten by a combined 20 lengths at its only two previous starts. The tactic proved successful, as Kgalagadi held a commanding lead on straightening and never gave anything else a chance, to win comfortably by more than three lengths. He is trained by Toby Lake at Bendigo.
The first starter Fervi, sent out equal favourite, made up a lot of ground and was hitting the line well to finish second, with Kerang gelding Ironbox recording his first placing from six starts when he held third place.
Race two was the Deni Paint n Panel Maiden Plate over 1400m, which saw an impressive performance by the Wangaratta-trained Salina Special, and gave Milos Bunjevac the first of his two winners on the day.
Deadly Devil, unplaced in his seven career starts, tried to repeat the effort of the first winner and lead all the way. However, Salina Special, which put the writing on the wall with a second placing at the Tocumwal Easter meeting, took the lead in the straight and careered away to win by nearly five lengths.
Deadly Devil hung on for second place, with the Ben Brisbourne trained Riverina Waltz coming from well back to claim third. The winner is trained by John and Chris Ledger.
Race three was the Premix King Maiden Plate over 1400m, when the race pattern of front-runners was again to the fore.
Royal Summer, trained by Geoff Brunsdon at Benalla, had ordinary form at the picnics coming into the race, well beaten at Yea at its previous start and only having one placing from nine career starts.
Jockey Mikaela Lawrence jumped cleanly from the outside barrier on the five-year-old mare and kicked clear of the field early, then extended the lead before straightening and romped home by seven lengths.
Saab Hasan-trained Si Si Sir finished second, with first starter Foreshore finishing well for third place. The race was a disaster for favourite backers, with Typhoon Romance having to undergo a vet check at the barriers before being cleared to take its place in the field, but then dislodging jockey Cassidy Hill at the start and being declared a runner.
And if punters were struggling after unfancied runners won two of the first three races, it was about to get worse.
Fleet Destination, trained at Wodonga by Craig Widdison and ridden by apprentice Ella Bent, was an outsider in the Deniliquin RSL Sub-branch Class 2 Handicap over 1400m after recording only one win from 37 starts.
The seven-year-old gelding was on pace throughout, but looked beaten when Swan Hill galloper Brassi Road and the fast finishing Savethebesttillast appeared to have its measure. But in a tight finish, Fleet Destination kicked again near the line and got the verdict.
The final race was the Deni Freighters Peter Simpson Benchmark 50 Handicap over 1200 metres.
Sakasu, trained at Swan Hill by Helen Burns, looked a picture in the mounting yard and raced accordingly.
Top weight Hollerloud tried tactics which had worked earlier in the day, coming from an outside barrier and taking up the lead, with a margin of about three lengths at the top of the straight.
But he was unable to keep up the momentum, with Sakasu showing a turn of foot to race to the front halfway down the straight and win well, under the guidance of apprentice jockey Makisha Salter. Wangaratta trainer Andrew Dale filled the minor placings, with Densetsu in second place and Wagunda in third.
It ended an excellent day’s racing at the local track, with more than 60 horses competing, well above average for the past decade, and strong support from Victorian provincial stables.
The Deniliquin Racing Club’s next meeting will be the Deniliquin Gold Cup in October, on the same day as the time-honoured Caulfield Cup and The Everest program in Sydney.