ANDREW Dale’s Eamonn’s Memory finally broke through, claiming his first country cup.
After second place finishes in the Tumut and Carrathool cups in consecutive weeks last year, a third in the Deniliquin Cup, as well as attempts in Berrigan and Balranald’s features, the five-year-old was able to take out the Tumbarumba Cup (1400m) on Saturday.
It was a super run from the son of Per Incanto who got moving on the turn and eventually saluted by more than a length with fuel left in the tank.
Dale said it was good to see Eamonn’s Memory break through for a country cup win.
“He’s finished second with the Carrathool and Tumut cups, third in the Deniliquin Cup and wasn’t far off in the Berrigan and Balranald cups so he deserves this one,” Dale said.
“He’s been racing well this prep without much luck and his run at Albury before Tumut topped him off nicely I thought.
“At Albury we ran him over 1400m and put the blinkers on him and he was solid so we thought we’d give him a crack at the Tumbarumba Cup where he’s raced well before.
“Brad (Vale) gave him a really good ride, he’s a jockey that rides that course really well so it all went to plan.”
Eamonn’s Memory has now won five races from 41 starts with his victory on Saturday taking him over $100,000 in prizemoney.
“He’s a horse that showed promise early but lost his way a bit so it’s great that he’s racing well again,” Dale said.
“This prep we’ve stuck to 1300m-1400m, I still think we can get him to a mile (1600m) but at the moment he’s racing well at that distance.
“The Tumut and Carrathool cups are 1400m races so they might be on the cards and then, if he races well there, we might try and get him to the mile and maybe have a crack at the Towong and Corowa cups.”
Dale has won a number of country cups across his training career and said winning them never gets old.
“All country cups are fantastic,” he said.
“The Tumbarumba Cup is one we’ve been chasing for a few years now so it’s nice to add that to the ones we’ve already won.
“I really enjoy winning these country cups because they’re such good events that are well supported by the community and have such a good vibe on course.”
