Site crafted and built by Kick Collective
Source: Racenet, by Clinton Payne
Chris Waller won a fourth Newcastle Gold Cup when Great House took out the $250,000 Group 3 handicap on Friday.
Great House gave experienced jockey Jeff Penza his first ever Group race double after just forty minutes prior he led throughout aboard Madam Legend to win the Group 3 Tibbie Stakes.
The lightly raced Great House produced a superior turn of foot to claim the biggest win of his career.
The imported son of super stallion Galileo (IRE), Great House was given the run of the race, travelling two pairs back from the lead before pouncing on the lead early in the straight.
Australian Derby winner Quick Thinker, which raced to the inside of Great House throughout, fought back gallantly over the latter stages but came up short.
Great House ($13) defeated the Murray Baker and Andrew Foresman-trained Quick Thinker ($20) by a neck with the winner’s stablemate No Compromise ($7.50) closing off hard, three-quarters of a length away in third.
Local galloper Luncies started the $5 favourite and finished fourth while Harpo Marx ($6) and Berdibek ($6.50) were not suited by the steadily run affair and finished sixth and 10th respectively
Great House’s win guarantees the gelding a place in the Group 1 The Metropolitan (2400m) at Randwick on October 2.
The five-year-old has 50kg in the $750,000 handicap but Friday’s win opens the door to a weight penalty.
Glencadam Gold in 2012 was the last horse to win the Newcastle Cup/The Metropolitan double and TAB Fixed Odds firmed both Great House and Quick Thinker from $51 into $17 for the Sydney spring carnival’s feature staying event.
Great House has now won four of his 12 starts, earning more than $340,000.