Stampede wins the 2017 Wagga Gold Cup for Gai Waterhouse, Adrian Bott and Rachel King

Australia’s first lady of racing had Stampede ($7.50) trained to the minute as the four-year-old held off the fast-finishing $2.90 favourite Life Less Ordinary to claim the $150,000 feature race.

It was Waterhouse’s second Wagga Gold Cup after winning the race with Regal Touch in 2001, but her first with training partner Adrian Bott.

The victory was King’s biggest moment in racing and she earned the praise of connections and rivals alike for a superbly-rated front-running ride.

Waterhouse told The Daily Advertiser that the Gold Cup victory meant a great deal.

“Wagga was virtually Dad’s home town so it was like going home...just so special, I can’t tell you,” Waterhouse said.

“We had him in at Rosehill (on Saturday) as well and they’re exactly the same prizemoney but I said we have to go to Wagga and win the race there.”

Stampede, a veteran of only seven race starts before Friday, left his rivals for dead around the home turn and opened up a big break.

The Chris Waller-trained Life Less Ordinary came charging out of the pack and was the only danger, but could not reel in Stampede and fell a half length short.

Cool Chap ($4.20) was a further 2¾ lengths back in third place.

Waterhouse is in awe of King, and was full of praise for her winning ride.

“It’s just great and how good is Rachel King, she’s a young girl going places. She’s phenomenal,” Waterhouse said.

“My husband (Robbie) hates using apprentices in black type races, because they can’t claim...but Rachel is riding so well. I could have got other jockeys to ride I wanted to put her on.

“She did two things that were just brilliant.

“Firstly, early on when another horse got the lead off us, she very cleverly took it back again. It was a very bold move.

“Then later on when she kicked away around the turn, it absolutely sealed the deal.

“She’s a great young woman and a great jockey.”

Waterhouse was unable to make it to Wagga for the Cup and watched the race unfold on her phone as she walked home from the stables.

“I was watching on my phone and started screaming...all of a sudden my neighbours raced out the front to see what was going on,” Waterhouse explained.

“Once they realised I was watching a race, they came down and cheered as well. It was quite funny.”