WAGGA stayer Gun Trace scored the biggest win of his career in Sunday’s $25,000 Darley Cootamundra Cup (1600m).
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The Doug Vickers-trained gelding made it three wins on the trot with an all-the-way win in the Cootamundra feature race.
A big crowd turned out to Cootamundra’s annual Cup meeting and they were treated to a brilliant front-running display in the main event.
Gun Trace ($11.00) was sent straight to the front by Mick Travers and proved too hard to catch as he posted a dominant 2¼ length victory.
Canberra visitor Law Of The Land ($20.00) ran on for second, with the ever consistent Black Fusion ($4.00) close up in third.
After wins at Canberra and Gundagai, Gun Trace stepped up to open company with ease.
Vickers had also accepted in the Picnic Cup at Wagga on Saturday but pulled the right rein as he opted for the Cootamundra Cup.
“He was entered both days because I wasn’t sure if he would get a run in the (Cootamundra) Cup,” Vickers said.
“I thought we would run him against the better class horses and see how we go. He got them off the bit at the half mile and Mick (Travers) did a good job.”
Vickers also heaped praise on Scott Cox for the work he has done with Gun Trace.
“The horse has settled down and that’s mainly due to young Scott. He spends a lot of time with him,” Vickers said.
“He’s very, very good and loyal and supportive of me.”
Gun Trace, a seven-year-old, has taken time to hit his best form. It took him 18 starts to break his maiden and his Cup triumph was only his fourth win from 28 starts.
“Some people wrote him off, but I liked him from the start,” Vickers said.
“He’s now coming into his own, which is very good.”
Travers was delighted to win a Cup for Vickers and Cox.
“He’s continued to improve and has been quite an amazing find for Doug and Scott,” Travers said.
It was a good day for Wagga trainers at Cootamundra.
Chris Heywood, Wayne Carroll and Gary Colvin all had winners with Delivered ($3.10), Captain Charlie ($5.50) and Bravado Lass ($7.50).
Leeton trainer Peter Clancy and Tumut counterpart Kerry Weir also enjoyed wins with Real Bonafide ($4.00) and Levee Bank ($2.60).
Nick Heywood took riding honours with a winning treble.
