Locally bred galloper Thrill Kill made a triumphant return home to win Friday’s $70,000 Mount Gambier Gold Cup.
Trained by former local Peter Hardacre the galloper has been a model of consistency on the South Australian Country Cup circuit coming off seconds in both the Kangaroo Island and Port Lincoln Cups at his previous two outings.
Ridden confidently by Maggie Collet, Thrill Kill showed plenty of fight to reel in Victorian Khoekhoe and Hardacre said it was a special win for many reasons.
“We made this our home for 10 years and it was pretty sad leaving really,’’ Hardacre said.
“We had to get a bit closer to the city.
“To come back and do this with a horse that was bred just down the road here. (Owned by) a local breeder, out of a mare who used to race here all the time for the same owners.
“A great bunch of local people who have been having the ride of their lives, but to win this one is such a thrill,’’ he said.
The win capped a massive day for in-form apprentice Maggie Collett who landed a riding treble on a day where the ladies dominated winning all eight races on Cup Day.
“It’s one of my biggest wins,’’ Collett said.
“The horse was just placed really well,’’ she said.
Collett said she was always confident Thrill Kill was going to fighting out the finish.
“He was working into it strong and I had a really good feeling at the 600m,’’ Collett said.
“He’s quite one paced and takes some riding, he just keeps whacking away,’’ she said.
Collett shared riding honours with Victorian apprentice Jordyn Weatherly with three wins while Stacey Metcalfe had a riding double.
The inaugural Sportsbet Log Relay was held in between Race 2 & Race 3 and saw three teams from local football clubs compete in pairs running whilst carrying a log, celebrating the forestry industry that Mount Gambier is famous for.
There were fantastic hospitality options on offer including the ever-popular Koonara Wines Marquee and SEN Track Marquee with Miles Pfitzner and David Taggart broadcasting live throughout the day on SEN.
Country Racing action continues on the Limestone Coast on Easter Sunday with the Penola Cup.
