Bianca Kicks On As Tyrone Bows Out

Sydney Morning Herald

Friday September 19, 2008

Craig Young

GAI WATERHOUSE claimed a third Newcastle Gold Cup when The Metropolitan-bound mare Bianca added yesterday's $185,000 feature to cups won at Ipswich and Wyong in recent months.

For rival stayer and local hero County Tyrone, the third placing, which was also achieved in the race four years ago, signalled the end of a mighty racing career. The police force is now calling.

"Hopefully he'll get in," County Tyrone's trainer Kris Lees revealed when announcing the 10-year-old's retirement.

County Tyrone won the Queensland Derby in 2002 when prepared by Lees's late father Max. The gelding ran in two Melbourne Cups, six Sydney Cups - winning two years ago - and the iron horse won The Metropolitan in a career spanning 86 starts for nine victories 16 placings and more than $2 million in prizemoney. "He has been a marvellous old horse, we'll miss him," Lees said.

For Bianca's owner George Cloros, the journey continues and another The Metropolitan is within reach. Cloros has won Randwick's major spring staying race with In Joyment and Coco Cobanna, with the former finishing third in the Newcastle Gold Cup on the way to headquarters.

In Joyment and Coco Cobanna were prepared by Gai Waterhouse, for whom Cloros had nothing but praise. "She really puts the thinking cap on and works her way through it," Cloros said. "If the horse is good enough, it comes to the fore."

Waterhouse's trusted lieutenant Tanya Rouse said Bianca had "matured mentally", and a trip to Brisbane for the winter carnival where the Ipswich Cup was won "may well have been the making of the mare".

Bianca started favourite at $5 yesterday and easily accounted for frontrunner Keepin' The Dream. Unfortunately for Bianca's jockey Nash Rawiller, the five-year-old drops to 52.5 kilograms in The Metropolitan, and he won't make the weight even with a handicapping penalty.

Hoofnote: The Newcastle Jockey Club will throw the gates open at its September 27 race meeting, which will be know as "County Tyrone day".

More racing - page 35

© 2008 Sydney Morning Herald

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