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Waterhouse and Bott Win Port Macquarie Cup

3 minute read

After having to be satisfied with minor prizemoney several times in recent years training partners Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott broke their drought when Rapido Chaparro stormed to comprehensive victory in the $200,000 Carlton Draught Port Macquarie Cup on Friday.

.Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott Picture: Racing and Sports

Following the disappointment of placings in the 2000m event behind Chris Waller trained horses in 2017 and 2018, the partnership was able to turn the tables on their nemesis as Rapido Chaparro led throughout to land the feature from Morton's For with the Waller-trained Master Shuhood third.

Waterhouse had been previously sending horses to Port Macquarie for almost 20 years in a bid to win the Port Macquarie Cup without success.

Adam Hyeronimus took advantage of Rapido Chaparro's speed to dictate terms in front before dashing clear as the field approached the home bend.

The lightly raced gelding has had only 13 starts, missing a year of his career due to injury, and is now repaying his big syndicate of owners with several coming from as far as Darwin and Melbourne to witness his Port Macquarie win.

It was certainly a day to savour for Hyeronimus as he completed a winning treble after saluting on Patagonian in the opening event prior to Grimoire's strong victory in the $70,000 Birdon Group Sprint.

His ride on the Jason Coyle trained Grimoire showed great maturity as Hyeronimus was able to balance Grimoire near the tail of the field before saving valuable ground close to the fence and hitting the line strongly to claim Valbeata on the winning line.

Miss Redoble completed a riding double for Aaron Bullock as the Drumbeats mare landed a narrow victory for popular Wyong trainer, Tracey Bartley, in the $50,000 Fastplast Building Supplies Hastings Cup over Let's Rebelle and Casino Mondial.