Special mare wins Winton Cup as jockey club celebrates 150th
"For me, that's a class horse . . . she knows she has to run."
Jamie Searle is a long-time racing writer. For more of his work check out the Southland Thoroughbreds Facebook page.
Morrie Paskell usually stays out of the limelight and away from photographers after his horses win on race day, but he made an exception at the weekend.
He and friend Tim White watched his mare, The Grey Goose, win the Winton Cup at the Winton Jockey Club's 150th anniversary race meeting at Ascot Park on Sunday.
Within a few minutes of the win, White was encouraging Paskell to be in the birdcage for the cup presentation and photograph.
Paskell was reluctant initially, mostly because he remembers many years ago he had a photo with one of his winners and 10 minutes later the horse dropped dead.
White said to Paskell: "Come on, come and get your photo taken . . . you don't get a cup win very often and she's a special mare."
They both walked into the birdcage to be there when The Grey Goose came off the track.Â
Paskell bought The Grey Goose as a weanling for $2000 off the auction site, gavelhouse.com in 2020.
Now 5, The Grey Goose has raced 16 times for Invercargill trainer Jo Gordon, for six wins, two thirds, two fourths, two fifths and $245,000.
"She's turned out a nice horse . . . Jo-Ann has placed her right," Paskell said.
Jockey Rohan Mudhoo had to lose 4.5kg to make The Grey Goose's carded weight of 55.5kg. The 55.5kg was the lightest he had ridden at since returning to race riding at Ashburton on October 20. Also, Mudhoo's seven rides on Sunday was the most number of mounts he had accepted for a meeting since resuming.
The horseman took eight months off from race riding to receive medical treatment.
The Grey Goose's impressive win on Saturday drew praise from Mudhoo.
"For me, that's a class horse . . . she knows she has to run," he said.
"She always gives 110 percent."