A LATE surge in front of a crowd of around 3000 people helped six-year-old mare, Penny To Sell etch her name in the Gunbower Racing Club records.
The Mick Sell-trained mare proved too strong for the 10-horse field, claiming Saturday’s Procal Dairies Gunbower Gold Cup by one and three-quarter lengths.
In her 38th start, the Kyneton-based mare settled midfield in the 1800-metre race, before overtaking seven-year-old gelding, Not To Know in the final 100 metres.
“Chris (jockey, Chris Nicoll) had the world on his shoulders during the race, as I asked him to get a good jump and stay out of trouble,” Sell’s wife, Mel said.
“She’s a very tough, honest mare and we all believed she had more strength than the rest of the field.”
Severn Road controlled the pace from the gates, leading the field up to the final 300 metres before Jake Duffy made his move on Not To Know.
The race favourite looked to have the win secured in the final 200 metres, before Nicoll guided Penny To Sell to her sixth career win.
“Chris receive late notice that he was riding her, but he rode beautifully,” one of the owners, Danny Buckley said.
Six-year-old gelding, Undercover Poet was in the mix to claim the cup, but finished third, four and three-quarter lengths behind the eventual winner.
The Cup was one of eight races held on the day, one more than initially planned for thanks to the meet receiving more than 300 nominations.
The meet received national exposure in the days leading up to the event, with one of the horses initially entered into the Cup, Magicool, opting instead to claim $10,000 by finishing sixthin the Turnbull Stakes at Flemington – claimed by Winx in her 21st consecutive career win.
Other winners at Gunbower were Prospectors Helmet in the Bet365 Maiden Plate, Liberty Lad in the O.T. McLoughlan Constructions Maiden Plate, Quatra Red in the Gunpork Piggeries Gunbower Maiden Plate, Harlem Star in the Cohuna IGA BM52 Handicap, Cosmic Rush in the Ellwaste BM52 Handicap, Shy Frank in the Bet365 BM64 Handicap and Doogans Rise in the Peter Walsh Member for Murray BM58 Handicap.
