Yours shows up for Thurlow

Renovated course receives glowing report

Waverly trainer Bill Thurlow had always dreamed of winning his home town cup and yesterday that dream came true.

Thurlow trains and races Yours in partnership with "good mate" and Waverley farmer Tony Symes.

And yesterday the horse stormed home from the rear to snatch victory in the $25,000 Steelform Roofing Group Waverley Cup (2200m) at Waverley.

"I'm absolutely rapt," Thurlow said after watching the tight finish. "This is the race I've always wanted to win and we've done it."

Making it extra special was that yesterday's Waverley Racing Club meeting was Thurlow's first since being elected president of the club at last year's annual meeting.

It was also the first totalisator meeting on the track since major renovations to the course proper, which yesterday received the thumbs up from officials and senior riders.

Thurlow, 51, said he set Yours for the Waverley Cup after the horse finished third in the Stratford Cup behind Biggles and runner-up High Octane on December 31.

It had a short let-up in early January then managed to beat only two rivals home last start when resuming at Woodville late last month. That result is likely to be why the horse was allowed to start yesterday paying the lucrative odds of $13.40 to win.

Thurlow said he was not worried by the lacklustre Woodville effort.

"It rained that day and he's hopeless on a wet track. I wasn't worried at all about that run, in fact I thought in the circumstances he went a good race."

Thurlow admitted he was instrumental in dropping the cup prizemoney from $50,000 last year to $25,000. That allowed the WRC to offer above average stakes of $15,000 for the remaining nine races for lower graded horses, including maidens.

"It would have been nice if the cup had a bigger stake because I happened to win it," Thurlow quipped.

"We are one of those clubs that try and look after the smaller owners and trainers that race lower grade horses and today the winners of those races go home with a decent cheque.

"I think that's what country racing is all about and we'll leave the big stakes to the big boys."

Symes was thrilled with the success, which he said he predicted in a roundabout way.

"I told my mates he would be first or last. I said the horse has a lot of ability and if he wants to do it he will win and if he doesn't he will run out the back."

Symes was right on both scores. Yours tailed the field until the home turn when he unleashed a powerful finishing run to catch Aintree in the shadow of the post to score by a half a head. Wai finished strongly late to finish third a further 1 3/4 lengths away with a similar margin back to Regal Secret next home.

Plans for Yours have yet to be decided. "We'll have a party tonight and go home and think about it," Thurlow said with a wry smile.

- © Fairfax NZ News