By Mary Hackshaw
AT what was the final night meeting at Moonee Valley for several years the Lee and Shannon Hope team scored an impressive win with Royal Lass in the Country Cup Final.
Having qualified for the race at Benalla on September, 26 the 4 year old Royal Meeting mare jumped to an early lead and was never seriously challenged in the 1200 metre event in the hands of regular rider Patrick Moloney. The win took the mare’s win tally to four from 18 starts, with $176,212 in prizemoney.
Seymour trainer Don Dwyer reached a milestone in achieving his 200th winner in Australia since relocating to Victoria from New Zealand in 2013.
Kilmore trainer Alicia MacPherson scored an impressive win with 4 year old maiden Frosted In Time at the meeting on her home track on Friday. The 4 year old led for virtually the entirety of the race, eventually winning by 9 lengths in the hands of jockey Cory Parish. Frosted In Time finished in fourth placing at his first two starts, followed by a second and third placing, before breaking his maiden status.
Cesar Bessan scored at Healesville in the open sprint event in the hands of Shaun Cooper. Just one race later the Dwyer-trained mare Voriah scored a narrow win, again in the hands of Cooper, taking Dwyer to 201 Australian wins.
Charmaine Barnes made the trip from her Seymour base to the NSW meeting at Berrigan on Saturday and was rewarded with a win with maiden mare Bron. It was only the third start for the 4 year old mare since relocating to the Barnes stable.
