Royal Lass showed pure speed and determination to claim the $150K Country Cup at the final night meeting at Moonee Valley before the track closes until August 2027. Set for this series, the four-year-old mare qualified with a strong win in the Benalla heat and followed with a maintanence run at Seymour to top her off for the final. Beginning brilliantly she crossed the field without expending any energy and was rated to perfection by regular jockey, Patrick Moloney. Approaching the home turn the mare kicked clear and spaced her rivals to hold off the fast finishing Mytemptation to score by 0.46lL on the line. Always a touch vulnberable at the 1200m distance the mare displayed her customary determination and will to win against this quality field to record her fourth win of her career and taking her prizemoney earnings in excess of $175K.
A huge and satisfying result for the Hope training duo with Shannon on course as representative of the stable.
“We’ve come here expecting to run a really strong race, but we probably weren’t at our weight advantage against these horses. She keeps improving as she gets older and we were always going to ride for speed and it was well executed by Patrick. We are especially pleased for the connections being long time clients to pull this off for them”..…………Shannon Hope post race.
“She won her heat at Benalla and she has continued to thrive. I had a look at her in the mounting yard and I thought gee she looks in great order, the team has done an excellent job”
I was hoping to get an easy lead but didn’t think we would get it like that. She broke really well as she has done every start for me. I knew she would let slip at the top of the straight and I was holding my breath and roaring at her over the last fifty to get her over the line. She was good enough to get the job done and was very rewarding for the team.”……Patrick Moloney – Jockey
Bred and raced by Mangalore Stud principal, Stephen Hinchliffe along with fellow connections, Tim Eurell, Phil Barnes, Stephen O’Connell, Wayne Buckingham, Brad Metcalfe and Anthony Piper (pictured below), celebrations were well into the night following on from the win.
On behalf of the Hope Team we congratulate everyone on this special night and win.
