Alta Shelby looks to be getting back to the form he showed early in his three year old season when he comprehensively dealt to a field of R51 – R53s at Winton on Saturday.
The Mach Three colt lead all the way and won easily by four and a half lengths running the 2400 metre mobile in a smart 2-56.0.
"He's just starting to come back into form which is pretty pleasing. I thought he would go really close today. We changed a bit of gear on him. He's a bit of a head shaker so I put a chinguard on him and it's made all the difference. He's starting to live up to his potential and what he showed early on," said trainer Mitch Kerr who's considering a start in the Group Two Alabar Southern Supremacy Stakes in a fortnight.
The Winton Business's Cup was won by the Ken and Tony Barron trained Royal Bengal.
The four year was originally trained in Southland by Robin Swain before heading to Canterbury. Owned by Baynes Racing Limited which is Kenny Baynes and his sister in-law Penny, he carries the colours made famous by Kenny's father the late Colin Baynes. The same colours were worn when Kamahl driven by Colin Baynes won this race in 1983.
The winning margin today was a length and a quarter with Star Commander running second.
Royal Bengal adding the Winton Cup to the Gore Cup he also won – Photo Bruce Stewart.
The race was marred by the second favourite Aloka breaking at the 450 metre mark. He was pulled out of the race by driver Blair Orange and found to have fractured his left hind cannon bone. Unfortunately for all his connections he had to be euthanaised.
Winton Cup winners last 10years
Year |
Winner |
Age |
Sire |
Driver |
Trainer |
Distance |
Time |
2008 |
Biella Star |
4g |
Mattuity |
DJ Dunn |
RD Holmes |
2400m |
3-01.0 |
2009 |
Bettor's Strike |
4g |
Bettor's Delight |
DJ Dunn |
CT Dalgety |
2400m |
2-58.8 |
2010 |
Lionels Meddle |
4g |
Live Or Die |
JR Dunn |
RJ Dunn |
3200m |
4-04.6 |
2011 |
Van Washington Man |
6g |
Washington VC |
RT May |
BA Waldron |
3200m |
4-06.5 |
2012 |
Texican |
3g |
Bettor's Delight |
DJ Dunn |
CT Dalgety |
3200m |
4-05.5 |
2013 |
Jimmy Johnstone |
4g |
P-Forty Seven |
JC Hay |
JC Hay |
3200m |
4-04.9 |
2014 |
Belkmyster |
4g |
Mach Three |
DJ Dunn |
G Anderson |
3200 metres |
4-06.0 |
2015 |
That's Hunting Pink |
5m |
Christian Cullen |
Terry Chmiel |
Dean Taylor |
3200 metres |
4-02.5 |
2015 |
Costa Del Magnifico |
4h |
Mach Three |
Nathan Williamson |
Brent Shirley |
3200 metres |
3-59.8 |
2016 |
Democrat Party |
4m |
American Ideal |
Nathan Williamson |
Katrina and John Price |
2400 metre stand |
3-01.2 |
2017 |
Delightful Memphis |
3f |
Bettors Delight |
Blair Orange |
Mark Jones |
2400 metre stand |
2-55.5 |
2018 |
Royal Bengal |
4g |
Bettors Delight |
Dexter Dunn |
Ken and Tony Barron |
2400 metre stand |
2-57.1 |
Bruce Stewart
Southland Harness racing