The Steve Tregea-trained Bergerac relished racing on successive Saturdays proving too good for his rivals on a quick back-up in the Listed $175,000 Channel Seven Ipswich Cup (2150m) today.
Bergerac (pictured at Randwick) is Rockhampton Cup bound after success in the 2019 Ipswich Cup. Photo: Steve Hart.
The Drumbeats five-year-old from Toowoomba, bred and raced by Windemere Stud, enjoyed his first win of the year breaking a winning drought going back to last December’s Listed Bernborough Handicap (1600m) at Doomben.
Ridden to victory in the Ipswich Cup by apprentice Michael Murphy, Bergerac backed-up from his hampered run last Saturday at Eagle Farm when ninth to Vinland in the Listed Wayne Wilson (1600m) over the mile.
“He certainly got the trip,” Murphy said post-win.
“I was told to just lead until the winning post and to let the rest of the speed go.
“He channeled there beautiful. I just got going at the right spot and away he went.
“He had the fresh legs…he does back-up very well and obviously he was just too good today.”
Murphy was quick out on the eventual winner who took up the early lead before Glen Boss took Master Zephyr around to the front after settling.
Top-weight Sampson and the well-backed favourite High Opinion meanwhile were racing second last and last respectively in the Cup with plenty of ground to make up approaching the turn for home.
Despite a big late run from the Howard Mathews-trained Sampson with 58kg, the NZ St Leger winner couldn’t match Bergerac and crossed second to the $6 winner who from out wide held gave a lovely kick over the final furlong to race away and win by a length.
It was an excellent performance from the veteran nine-year-old Sampson who is now set to head to Eagle Farm next weekend on Tatt’s Tiara Day for a shot at the Group 3 $200,000 Tattersall’s Cup (3000m).
In third rounding out the Ipswich Cup trifecta was one-time favourite Fighting Teo, the in-form Kevin Kemp-trained four-year-old putting in a terrific performance having been clipped at the heels and almost falling.
The Ipswich Cup was the Bergerac’s first go at further than the 1600m and he proved he could see out the distance enjoying his ninth career win at start number 29.
With five of the past six Ipswich Cup winners failing to go on to win another race, Tregea will now be hoping history doesn’t repeat itself with Bergerac who heads towards a next-up run in the $150,000 Rockhampton Cup on July 6.
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