Jericho Cup contender Dambulla.
© Racing Photos
Light Horse remembered with Jericho Cup
By James Tzaferis / Racing.com
The man behind the Jericho Cup has urged racing fans to reflect on the efforts of the Australian Light Horse during the first World War when watching Sunday’s $300,000 race at Warrnambool.
Bill Gibbins has been instrumental in driving the unique staying race since its inception in 2018 and has also funded the concept with more than $1 million of his own money.
He said the race, which revives the original Jericho Cup that was run over three miles during Australia’s war campaign against Turkey in 1918, provides the racing industry with a perfect opportunity to honour the horses and horsemen that fought so bravely for their country.
“The main object of the race was to remember the light horse and the guys that went through all of that over there,” Gibbins said.
“They were just ordinary people that went over there and risked their lives.
“They thought they were going to Europe to the Western Front, but they dropped them off in the desert and they had to survive there.
“It’s an amazing part of history.
“They were horsemen 100 years ago and they’re horsemen now so when they racing industry celebrates the Jericho Cup and the history of the light horse, they’re celebrating their own history.”
On Tuesday, Racing Victoria declared the final field for the third running of the 4600-metre staying contest.
Defending champions Ciaron Maher and David Eustace will take a two-pronged attack into the race with last-start winners Dambulla and Wil John, while Gai Waterhouse, Adrian Bott and Michelle Payne will also saddle up their maiden Jericho Cup runners.
Final field for the $300,000 Haymes Paint Jericho Cup (4600m):
1. Frenzied – Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott – Arron Lynch (1) 72kg
2. Dambulla – Ciaron Maher & David Eustace – L Horner (8) 69.5kg
3. Jukila (NZ) – Michelle Payne – T Sadler (5) 69kg
4. Alienated – Cliff Murray – B Thomas-Rantall (7) 68kg
5. Wil John – Ciaron Maher & David Eustace – S Jackson (2) 68kg
6. Matas – Michael Hickmott – C Douglas (6) 66kg
7. Count Zero (NZ) – Symon Wilde – Jockey TBC (17) 66kg
8. Transfer Allowance – Thomas Carberry – C McCarthy (3) 66kg
9. Britannicus – Symon Wilde – R Short (16) 66kg
10. Da Deputy – David Noonan – W Gordon (15) 66kg
11. Dewrinkler – Amy McDonald – Jockey TBC (13) 66kg
12. Golden Flag (NZ) – Patrick F Ryan Jnr – T Ryan (12) 66kg
13. So Able – Shane McCusker – D Horner (10) 66kg
14. Superleggera (NZ) – Patrick F Ryan Jnr – N Newton (14) 66kg
15e. Only a Mother – Symon Wilde – Jockey TBC (9) 66kg
16e. Wolfe Tone (NZ) – Francis Finnegan – Jockey TBC (11) 66kg
17e. Karakoram – Chris Hyland – Jockey TBC (18) 66kg
18e. Periscope (NZ) – Patrick F Ryan Jnr – Jockey TBC (4) 66kg
This article first appeared on Racing.com and is reprinted here with their kind permission.
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