Local trainer Lisa Vaughan added to her proud record in a hometown feature when lightweight runner Lochnaberry scored a runaway victory in Saturday’s $60,000 Baillie & Lewis Pharmacy Invercargill Gold Cup (2600m).
It was a second Invercargill Gold Cup win in the last three years for Vaughan, who saddled Asathought to take out the race in 2022.
“It’s pretty cool to win the Gold Cup here for the second time in three years,” Vaughan said. “We’ve been lucky enough to have a couple of very handy stayers in the stable in recent times, so it’s been a good race to us.”
In contrast to the seven-race winner Asathought, Lochnaberry went into this year’s race with a relatively modest record of three wins from 19 starts and a rating of 70. But she defied $10 odds and took her career to new heights with an emphatic three-length win.
Apprentice jockey Bailey Rogerson reduced the five-year-old’s weight from 54kg to 51kg, and she settled in third along the rail as The Last Thyme set a sedate tempo in the early stages of the race.
Lochnaberry was travelling well a long way from home, and Rogerson was unfazed as Verismo and Zambezi Zipper surged out of the pack to put some speed into the race down the side of the track.
Lochnaberry pounced soon after straightening for home and drew away down the straight to win with ease.
“The step up to 2600m was definitely what she really needed today, and probably even longer distances too,” said Vaughan, who also shares in the ownership of the Cup winner. “She just settles so well and keeps going. The further, the better.
“It was a good win today, albeit with a nice light weight on her back and probably not against the strongest of fields. But it’s a really good result and hopefully something we can build on as we get her rating up and start taking on some better horses in the future.
“As a long-term goal, I’d really like to have a go at the New Zealand Cup (Gr.3, 3200m) next spring. I think that’s an ideal race for her. I probably won’t do a whole lot more with her in this current campaign – maybe something like the Riverton Cup (2147m) and then a good, long break. I think she’ll have an even better season next season, so that’s something to look forward to.”
Lochnaberry is by Jakkalberry and was bred by Novara Park principal Luigi Muollo under his Explosive Breeding banner. Her 20-start career has now produced four wins, three placings and $95,795 in prizemoney.