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By HARRY CLARKE
A LOCAL jockey’s first ever ride on Roma Cup day couldn’t have gone better as Sophie Wilcock steered NICK THE SKIP from the second widest barrier to a one length victory in the main race, delivering a dream day at the track for the horse’s Quilpie-based owners.
Wilcock, who only recently returned to the saddle following an extended break, said the huge crowd of roughly 4,000 enthusiastic racegoers willed her and “Nick” home in the Royal On Ninety-Nine Roma Cup Open Handicap.
“It feels very good – so good,” an ecstatic Wilcock said after the race.
“This is the biggest day I’ve ever raced at and the crowd was just screaming. It gives you more incentive to try harder.
“We were never going to lead this race from the barrier that we got, so we opted to try and get a midfield position with cover and save him up as best we could, knowing that he hasn’t run this distance before.
“I got a good spot and come the 700m mark I just had to get going. He had a lot in him and he just didn’t stop.”
NICK THE SKIP was purchased as a tried horse 18 months ago by former bush jockey William Toner, who gave the gelding to his Charleville mate Shane Iverson to train.
From 24 starts under Iverson, the 7-year-old has won ten races and recorded four second places, including five wins from seven starts at Bassett Park. His total prize money from 49 starts is now just shy of $180,000.
The Roma Cup was also a qualifier for the Country Cups Challenge, meaning NICK THE SKIP will now run for a share of $200,000 at Doomben in a fortnight’s time.
“It feels absolutely tremendous, especially winning with my mate Willy Toner,” Iverson told the Caller.
“He’s battling illness and to win this race for him is something special. This horse has just brought him so much pleasure. It’s just amazing.
“We won a race here last Easter – just a benchmark race – and that was incredible, but in 18 months time to win a Roma Cup with the same horse is amazing.
“Deep down I was very confident but I don’t say too much to too many people because race horses can make terrible liars of you.”
It’s understood more than 3,500 punters pre-purchased tickets for Roma Cup day while an estimated 500 more paid at the gates of Bassett Park.
Roma Turf Club co-president Peter Flynn, who has an unrivalled vantage point from the race caller’s box, said the committee was thrilled that the crowd was roughly twice that of last year’s pandemic-impacted meeting.
The ever popular Fashions on the Field had some $7,000 worth of prizes up for grabs.
The Keatings Funerals Contemporary Lady division was won by Kate Kirk from Moura in a stunning orange dress, while the Harcourts Best Dressed Male was won by local lad Rob Freeman whose outfit featured a tie emblazoned with Aboriginal art.
“I found the dress first,” Kirk said. “I just love orange and blue, so this was a match made in heaven”.
Another track highlight was the victory by local trainer Pat Webster’s COAT OF ARMS in the Explorers Inn Andrew Arthur Memorial Country Stampede Qualifier.
Webster will now run the horse in the Country Stampede Final at Doomben on the same day as the Country Cups Challenge.
Fellow local trainers Wayne Baker and Craig Smith had wins in the first and last races respectively, with STAYS ON TOUR and COUNTRY BOYZ.
SLIDESHOW:
The Roma Cup race meeting was this year attended by Queensland Racing Integrity Commissioner Shane Gillard, who was enjoying his 14th regional rural race meeting since assuming the role earlier this year.
Gillard, whose office oversees the administration of racing stewards, vets and starters and animal welfare, said it was a pleasure to visit Roma for what he described as the pinnacle of country racing in Queensland.
“It’s great to get out into the regions and especially for a big day like the Roma Cup,” Gillard said.
“It doesn’t get any bigger. It’s huge for the township, it’s huge for the local area and for us it’s important to support what goes on in regional Queensland.”
