A crowd of some 3,000 have witnessed St Pat’s racing history as the Outback Cup finished in a dead heat on Saturday.
Key points:
- It’s the first time in its history the Outback Cup has finished with joint winners
- Velaro and Magnossiva were declared the winning horses
- The local trainer and owner of Velarno says the day was an excellent showing for his horse
For the first time in the 58-year-old race, the margin between multiple participants was so fine they were considered equal.
Racehorses Velaro and Magnossiva were the joint-winning stock, with jockeys Murray Henderson and Rochelle Milnes respectively sharing the spoils.
The Outback Cup is the premier event for the St Pat’s Races, boasting the biggest winner’s purse of $12,850.
Former president of the St Pat’s committee Sean Reddan said in all his time involved in St Pat’s he has never seen a tie in the penultimate event.
“I’ve never seen a race so close under such circumstances,” he said.
“It has got to happen sooner or later and there was a lot of suspense.”
A bargain for a horse
Broken Hill’s own Michael Wayman, the trainer of Velaro, has had a long-standing love affair with the annual event.
Mr Wayman was last successful in the Outback Cup in 2012 with Dealers and 2009 with Uncle Willy.
After purchasing Velaro for a “bargain” price Mr Wayman said he has been very impressed with his recent form.
“I just looked after him for three or four months at home and worked him up slowly,” he said.
“I took him to Port Lincoln to give him his first start and then I took him to Adelaide about three weeks ago.
“He’s improved since that run down there and I thought on his gallop here last Sunday he’d be hard to beat [in the Outback Cup].”
Despite having to share the spoils with his competitor, jockey Murray Henderson said it was a great race and event overall.
“With the dead heat, yeah, it’s a first, but there’s not much else to say — just that everybody’s got to enjoy the spoils,” he said.
“I’ve ridden quite a few horses for Michael and like he’s said he’s always rung me up and I’ve always jumped to him.
“We’ve travelled to many a country meeting and many miles too, I tell you.”
One of a kind
Mr Reddan said Broken Hill’s St Pat’s Races were a one-of-a-kind event and served a great purpose for the community.
“St Pat’s is unique in that there is no other race meeting like it in Australia,” he said.
“I’ve been to race meetings all over Australia, and grew up with the races in south-west Victoria, and this is unique.
“It has got a great community spirit, great sense of patriotism. It’s more or less a homecoming, I think, for a lot of Broken Hill people from away.”
Second place for the Outback Cup went to Spy Colonel, while third place was claimed by Havaduel.
dan