Monday, 11 June 2007:
Trainer Paul Perry and larrikin jockey Allan Robinson lifted the spirits of their flood-ravaged hometown of Newcastle when Newport won the Group Two Brisbane Cup at Eagle Farm.
The Brisbane Cup, shortened from 3200m to 2400 metres for the first time, provided a sweet result for Robinson who had to lose more than 1.5 kilos when he arrived in the capital on Monday morning to ride the Encosta De Lago four-year-old at 52kg.
Newport, narrowly beaten in the McKell Cup (2400m) at Rosehill last start, edged out the fast finishing New Zealander Lilakyn by a nose with last year's Queensland Derby winner Ice Chariot a half-length away third.
It was also an emotional victory for both trainer and rider as Perry's father Ron, 87, has been in poor health in recent times.
Perry, who trains more than 70 horses at Broadmeadow, was thankful he made the decision to send Newport to Brisbane six days ago, just before the big wet inundated the Hunter Valley.
"It's been a bit hairy back home," said Perry, who met the Queen when Choisir claimed the King's Stand and Golden Jubilee Stakes sprint double at Royal Ascot in England four years ago.
"I spoke to my foreman, Keyren Forbes this morning and he said a lot of boxes were under water but no horses had been lost."
Tears welled in Perry's eyes when he briefly spoke about his father's illness.
"Dad hasn't been well. He and Robo have been very close for a long time," Perry said.
In typical Robinson fashion, the popular jockey demanded Perry should sling him more after giving both men their first win in the Brisbane Cup.
Perry, who bought Newport for $150,000 as a yearling at the Sydney Easter sales, will now give the four-year-old a break before concentrating on a Melbourne Cup (3200m) campaign at Flemington in November.
"He won in Melbourne last carnival time and he's only lightly-raced so he's worth a chance at the Melbourne Cup," Perry said.
"Allan had a plan how best to ride him today and he wanted to stay close which worked."
Although Kiwi rider Lisa Cropp raised the whip in a victory salute as Lilakyn crossed the line, Perry was always confident Newport had lasted to win.
"I thought he won for sure," Perry said.
"I thought with 52 kilos he had a big chance. He's such a big, relaxed horse I don't think he'll have a problem getting 3200 metres."
Robinson also had no doubt Perry was on the right track by heading to the Melbourne Cup.
"He's a lovely horse and is developing into a nice stayer," he said.
Robinson was never worried about having to shed so much weight only a few hours before the Brisbane Cup.
"When I landed at the airport I was lucky to have (former heavyweight jockey) Alan Russell to meet me. He knows all about losing weight," he said.
Kiwi trainer Guy Lowry almost pulled off a spectacular hit-and-run mission with Lilakyn, who was making her Australian debut.
"I wasn't sure if we won or lost and I didn't see Lisa do the victory salute," said Lowry, who will immediately return home with the six-year-old.
Trainer Ron Maund, who was lucky to engage Damien Oliver as a replacement for Jim Cassidy following his earlier race fall, was delighted with Ice Chariot's performance.
"I thought he was probably one run short. He looked the winner 80 metres out but Damien said he just ran out of gas," Maund said.
