For once, Black Caviar didn’t get a look in.
The cash and the bragging rites as the fastest goat in Australia went to feisty Patches O’Hoolihan.
Patches left the field eating his dust as he set a blistering track record at the John deGroot Australian Goat Racing Cup in the outback Queensland town of Barcaldine on Monday.
Black Caviar – in a performance unheard of by his equine namesake – brought up the rear.
Jo Martin, who trained Patches, was on Tuesday still revelling in her charge’s win.
After just scraping into the cup, following a second-place finish in his qualifier, Patches stormed to victory and handed Ms Martin a place in goat racing history as the first woman to train a cup winner.
“I was actually calling the race yesterday and I did get a bit over excited,” Ms Martin told AAP.
“He’s been broken in for about three years now. He’s always been up there looking like he’ll have a bit of pace and style. This year he really hit his straps.”
The win came with a $1000 prize and a nice shiny silver cup that’s going straight to the pool room. But Ms Miller says it’s not going to her head.
“Just don’t call me Gai Waterhouse.”
As for Black Caviar, owner John Richardson says the young goat did well for his first race and could yet rival his famous namesake.
“He’s got a lot to learn, but by gee he didn’t do too much wrong. He got into the big race, and he’s only young.”
Barcaldine hosts the goat races each year as part of Labour Day celebrations.
Related posts:
Views: 0