Wagga, Muswellbrook previews: Luke Pepper is hoping for a Helluva Gold Cup Soiree with his in-form mare
Luke Pepper aims to take centre stage at Wagga after having played a cameo role in one of the greatest races ever run in the Riverina.
This year's carnival marks the 21st anniversary of the then unknown Queanbeyan gelding Takeover Target's extraordinary win in the Class 1 on Wagga Town Plate Day with Jay Ford aboard.
'I still remember the day pretty clearly to tell you the truth,' Pepper said.
'Jay rang me and said 'I am riding the best horse I have ever ridden in my life' and I said what is it and he said 'oh, this horse that's in the Class 1.
'And I had a look and I said to Jay; 'it's drawn 16, it's no hope from there, it's won a Maiden at Queanbeyan.
Helluva Soiree books her Wagga Cup ticket with a win in the Murrumbidgee Cup today! � @mtcwagga pic.twitter.com/jJJk0PE5Oq
â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 13, 2025
The Form: Complete NSW Racing thoroughbred form, including video replays and all you need to know about every horse, jockey and trainer. Find a winner here!
'And he said, I'm telling you, it goes good.
'It led for fun and broke the course record so he wasn't far wrong, Jay.'
Pepper may have started out as a doubting Thomas when it came to Takeover Target but would go on to become one of his closest disciples, travelling the world as the Moruya-bred gelding's trackwork rider.
Pepper's 2025 Wagga carnival ambitions are well beyond a Class 1 as the Canberra-based trainer has his sights set on the feature Gold Cup which comes with the added reward of Big Dance Eligibility.
Pepper's Cup contender is the Yarraman Park Stud bred mare Helluva Soiree who has managed to win four or her last five starts, punctuated by an unlucky fourth in the Canberra Cup Preview.
'Obviously we know it is an absolute quantum leap from what she's been racing in but she's a mare in form, she loves the track and Claire's (Ramsbotham) got a very good understanding of her, they're a good combination,' Pepper said.
'She's got a good gate so she should be in the right spot. She'll have every chance.
'I'm just excited to have a runner in the race but funnier things have happened with these mares when they're in good form.
ðŸ'¥ New winner for sire Winning Rupert ðŸ'¥
4yo gelding Cyclone Rupert (ex Wild Grace) was victorious in today’s Maiden Plate 1000m at Tamworth for the Cody Morgan stable. @Darby_Racing pic.twitter.com/VNvRmxwAOx
â€' Grandview Stud (@GrandviewStud) August 25, 2023
'She doesn't know what she is racing. I can't fault her, she can't be in any better order leading into the run.'
Pepper, meanwhile, has a strong hand to play on the race prior to the Cup with stable pair Keikoku and Cyclone Rupert flying the flag.
Barnstormer Keikoku has won four races in 30 starts.
The son of five-time Group 1 winner Dream Ahead's only two runs at the Wagga 1200m were a win and last start fourth in the Town Plate Prelude.
'The wide barrier is not too much of an issue for him,' Pepper said. 'We'll ride him and let him have the last crack at them.
'He won at the track and his last run there was huge the other day.
'He's honest and never lets us down. He can't be going any better than what he is.'
Cyclone Rupert, meanwhile, left a favourable impression at his first run for Pepper when come from well back to finish fourth in the Cup Day Sprint at Orange on April 11.
'We were absolutely rapt with his first-up run,' Pepper said.
'Stepping to the 1200m second-up reads really good for him.'
â– â– â– â– â–
Trainer Brett Cavanough has done his bit to ensure another 'feature win' is added to a family that has been churning them out for close to half a century when Zumbo tackles the Miss Finland Handicap.
Zumbo is raced by Cavanough 's wife, Lauren, on a lease arrangement with Segenhoe Stud.
Zumbo, a daughter of the Widden-bred Zoustar, can trace her own lineage back to Molokai who was a highly influential foundation mare across Segenhoe's owners past and present.
'There's a bit of history there,' the Kosciuszko winning trainer Cavanough said.
Zumbo took no time to get off the mark, winning a Grafton Maiden on debut in the last days of January before the break.
'She was pretty sharp in a jumpout the other morning,' Cavanough said.
'She is a big gangly thing, obviously she is furnishing, but she's an improver, she's well-bred and she's got the form on the board.
Zumbo wins for the @cavanoughracing stable with Ben Looker on board! pic.twitter.com/Yxu5XUiB6S
â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) January 27, 2025
'Everything lines up to run well.
'Did I expect to hit a Heavy 10 first-up? No I didn't. Is she ready to run? Yes she is, she's had plenty of work so she'll be going to the races.'
Zumbo's dam, Panna Cotta, was a city winner and stakes placegetter in just four career starts.
One of them was her third in the Scone Jockey Club's Listed Woodlands Stakes, run at Rosehill that year.
And while Cavanough has the 2025 carnival in his backyard as an option for Zumbo, there are other times and places that would suit her equally well.
'I'd take a deep breath and let her recover from a run on a Heavy track and try and find a good track, give her gallop, and aim somewhere without running into the big boys,' he said.
As well-bred as Zumbo is, Cavanough's got one better in the opener, namely Naftali.
The son of Deep Field is the fifth foal of Gracie's Lass who is best known as the dam of Blue Diamond winner Artorius.
Naftali has been a costly conveyance for punters, beaten three times when an odds-on favourite.
'He should have won a Maiden by now but he's had genuine excuses,' Cavanough said.
'I'd never bag him.
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Racing expert Ray Thomas has run the rule over Saturday's Bob Charley Stakes meeting at Royal Randwick and found a few he thinks are worth following. â– â– â– â– â– Kujenga (Race 1) was the rank outsider at $81 for the juvenile opener but gave backers of odds-on favourite Hidden Motive a real fright before losing by the narrowest of margins. Kujenga finished powerfully late to just miss but this improving filly can be placed to advantage over winter. You can exhale if you backed Hidden Motive! 🥵 The fav gets his nose down at the right moment to make it two wins in a row in the Randwick opener! @AshMorgan6 @ndoyleracing @aus_turf_club — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 7, 2025 Gentileschi (Race 3) was coming back slightly in trip and wasn't suited by the slow early tempo but she started to gain momentum late and was charging through the pack to finish a close fifth. She's only had three starts this campaign and will keep improving, particularly as she gets out to a middle distance. 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Loch Eagle flies to win at Randwick! 🦅 @Leesracing @aus_turf_club — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 7, 2025 Headley Grange (Race 9) scored brilliantly first-up and was the middle leg of a Joe Pride hat-trick. Headley Grange is extremely consistent and did win at his second and third runs in last preparation. Headley Grange wins first up to give @PrideRacing a Randwick double! 🙌 @aus_turf_club — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 7, 2025 â– â– â– â– â– ON THE CLOCK Callistemon  (Race 2) was held up for a run in the straight but when clear she charged home the final 200m in 11.88s to claim third. Just hop on the Doyle/Morgan express! 🚂 Hellfire Express wins the Midway - and that's the first two Randwick races to @ndoyleracing and @AshMorgan6! @aus_turf_club @Darby_Racing — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 7, 2025 Shohisha (Race 3) was a clear last in the small field of seven on the turn but although the race developed into a sprint home, she was able to sprint her final 600m in 34.08s to score an impressive win. Where to look?! ðŸ'€ Four go to the line as one at Randwick, with Shohisha getting the bob in a thriller! @tomo_sherry @DPayneRacing @aus_turf_club — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 7, 2025 Bengal and Shropshire Lad (Race 4) broke clear of their rivals to fight out the finish of the Highway. Bengal ran his final 200m in 11.82s compared to Shropshire Lads 11.89s with the former edging clear near the line. Bengal hangs on in the TAB Highway for Luke Pepper and @brodie_loy ðŸ'° @aus_turf_club — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 7, 2025 Loch Eagle (Race 7) finished powerfully at the end of 1600m to score a good win. He savaged the line with a closing 200m of 12.04s to run down Grebeni. Loch Eagle flies to win at Randwick! 🦅 @Leesracing @aus_turf_club — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 7, 2025 In Flight (Race 8) sprinted her final 600m in a fast 33.73s, the best of the meeting. She ran a closing 200m split of 11.65s to run down Brudenell and win the Bob Charley Stakes. A tough win to In Flight in the Listed Bob Charley AO Stakes at Randwick for @PrideRacing! 🚀 @ProvenTbreds @aus_turf_club — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 7, 2025 â– â– â– â– â– WHAT THEY SAID 'In Flight is going to keep getting better with age. This time next year she will be a better horse again. But she's a pretty thing. Look at her tail, there are so many different shades of grey in it, she's a beautiful filly,' said trainer Joe Pride. 'It's easy to say now she has two stakes wins to her name but she is just oozing confidence,' said Jay Ford, rider of In Flight. 'I'm happy for Joe (Pride) because I think he's an outstanding trainer and he's got a good horse with In Flight,' Bob Charley said. ' Shohisha has been looking for the mile, if it is in their genes, they will get the trip,' said trainer David Payne. 'I've got a few doubles but it's my first city treble. I have been here seven years now and it's probably only this year it has really developed into something,' said Ash Morgan after he rode three winners. 'We feel he is a four-five lengths better horse than what he showed today. He over-raced, he got pestered in front and did a bit of work there. He will improve a lot. Wait until you see him on top of the ground. At home what he has shown us, he is absolutely electric,' said Sean Driver, part-owner of Hidden Motive. â– â– â– â– â– STEWARDS WRAP Callistemon (Race 2) was held up for clear running from the 400m and approaching the 200m was disappointed for a run between Engine Room and Allegro Miss. Callistemon remained held up until passing the 150m where it was finally able to secure clear running. Danish Prince (Race 2) was ridden by apprentice Jace McMurray who was questioned by stewards regarding a towel remaining caught around his left leg during the race. McMurray stated that he had inadvertently left the towel draped across the wither of the gelding after entering the barriers and, as such, this resulted in it remaining attached to his leg through the race. Just hop on the Doyle/Morgan express! 🚂 Hellfire Express wins the Midway - and that's the first two Randwick races to @ndoyleracing and @AshMorgan6! @aus_turf_club @Darby_Racing — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 7, 2025 Rotagilla (Race 5) came out of a wide barrier and was shifted behind runners in the early stages. After passing the 1200m was inconvenienced by Mille De Lune, which shifted out when over-racing. Rotagilla raced wide and without cover until passing the 800m where he was awkwardly placed at the heels of Elivina, which was carried out. It's Millie De Lune on the inside who gives @AshMorgan6 a Randwick treble! ðŸŒ� @mcsmithracing @aus_turf_club — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 7, 2025 Oh Diamond Lil (Race 6) travelled strongly throughout the middle stages but when expected it would quicken in the home straight she didn't respond as expected. Her rider, Jay Ford, told stewards the mare may have raced flat second-up from a spell. What a win by Thunderlips! 😮 âš¡ï¸� @AnnaRoper_ on board for @BBakerRacing ðŸ'� @aus_turf_club — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 7, 2025 Whinchat (Race 9) reared on jumping and missed the start by six lengths. As stewards were satisfied that Whinchat reared simultaneously to the start being effected, the horse was declared a starter. Headley Grange wins first up to give @PrideRacing a Randwick double! 🙌 @aus_turf_club — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 7, 2025 â– â– â– â– â– NSW RACING – THE WEEK AHEAD Monday: Canterbury, Grafton Tuesday: Scone Wednesday: Kensington Thursday: Gosford, Lismore Friday: Goulburn, Muswellbrook Saturday: Rosehill Gardens, Newcastle Sunday: Coonamble, Port Macquarie â– â– â– â– â– SNAPSHOT – WITH RON DUFFICY RUN OF THE DAY You have to give it to the inexperienced three-year-old filly Shohisha who sat back last in a slowly run race giving weight to the older mares. Not only that she was 1100m to 1600m second-up on a heavy track. FORGET THEY RAN Callistemon never really had a chance to balance up right down the straight in the Midway. With clearer running early she would have gone close to winning. HORSE TO FOLLOW Shropshire Lad is just out of class 1 company and lacked Highway experience but his turn is not far off. It was hard to miss the run of the imported mare Quietness who has a nice future in Australia.
