“I was on the best horse in the race.”
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Sunday’s Narromine Cup was run at an incredible pace early on but apprentice jockey Chelsea Ings was never phased onboard A Magic Zariz.
Dubbo galloper Our Sarastro and Cocktail Time flew out of the gates and led by 15 lengths midway through Sunday’s 1600m feature event but Ings never panicked despite sitting deep in the field.
With roughly 400m to go she, and the rest of the field, made a move and A Magic Zariz ($4.80) was able to overhaul a brave Leucura ($5.50) late on and seal the $45,000 Cup win for Coonamble trainer Cecil Hodgson.
When Ings was asked post-race what she was thinking when the leaders almost disappeared from sight, her answer was blunt.
“That I was on the best horse in the race,” she laughed to Sky Thoroughbred Central.
“It was a pleasure to get a winner for Cecil. He’s given me a few rides and it was good to be on that horse.
“I think the way they ran the race it was more like a 1400m than a mile, they stacked the pace on so it suited him well.”
A Magic Zariz had never run further than 1400m in his 16-start career heading into Sunday’s Cup but he was still favoured by punters.
Dubbo trainer Justin Stanley saw his gelding Something Borrowed jump a $3.70 favourite in front of a healthy Narromine Turf Club crowd.
All those at the track, including racecaller Col Hodges, were left stunned by the rapid pace shown by the frontrunners while top weight Leucura slogged it out and led the chasing party.
Leucura, ridden by Dubbo’s Kody Nestor, caught the leaders shortly after rounding the bend and took the lead, while Ings and A Magic Zariz peeled wide.
The in-form Present Sense ($4.80) loomed as well but it was A Magic Zariz who went on to score a one-length victory.
“She rode him a good race,” Hodgson said of Ings, before speaking about the early speed.
“That was only setting it up for someone at the back and I put her (Ings) on for the claim so we only carried 56kg today. I knew he’d get a mile. He’d been looking for it.”
It continues a fine preparation for A Magic Zariz, with a win in the XXXX Cup at Mudgee and a third-placed finish in the Cattleman’s at Warren.
The five-year-old has also enjoyed wins at Gunnedah and Dubbo this time out.
Hodgson finished with a double at Narromine’s showcase meeting, where the minimum prizemoney each race was increased to $30,000, as A Pedro’s Zariz took out a Class 1 and Maiden Plate (1600m).
Dubbo trainers Clint Lundholm and Darren Hyde also enjoyed success with Flight Risk and Snippety Sip respectively.
Nick Guthrie
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
