Angela Forster’s Lotion triumphs by smallest of margins in $70,000 Ladbrokes Alice Springs Cup

AT long last, super-tough stayer Lotion has claimed the major Cup victory he so richly deserves, taking out the Ladbrokes Alice Springs Cup for trainer Angela Forster

Lotion (jockey Paul Shiers on the outside) moments before winning the 2020 Alice Springs Cup for trainer Angela Forster. Picture: NIKKI WESTOVER

AT long last, super-tough stayer Lotion has claimed the major Cup victory he so richly deserves.

But on a memorable day for Territory racing, his trainer Angela Forster wasn’t so sure he triumphed in the moments after he crossed the finishing post in the $70,000 Ladbrokes Alice Springs Cup (2000m) at Pioneer Park yesterday.

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The veteran gelding was eventually adjudged the victor by the narrowest of margins – 0.04 of a length, in fact – just beating John Peacock’s fellow eight-year-old Flying Tormenta (jockey Terry Treichel) in a thrilling photo finish.

“It was so exciting. I can’t believe it,” Forster told the NT News. “I thought we got second. Definitely (my heart was in my mouth). But John was saying: ‘You’ve got it’.”

In a strong all-Territory field, to see Peacock win with Flying Tormenta – the 2019 Adelaide River Cup champion – would have also been highly popular.

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A fellow South Australian, Peacock captured the imagination of Territory racing fans before yesterday when he declared his star filly “will be winning” the 2020 Red Centre classic.

But Lotion – a two-time Tennant Creek Cup champion – is also a highly popular stayer in the region.

He came second behind Gary Clarke’s Cup favourite Java in the Chief Minister’s Cup a week ago.

And he was also a close runner-up in last year’s Darwin Cup to Rob Gulberti’s Ihtsahymn.

“He deserves a big win. He always seems to get second,” Forster said with a laugh.

Lotion, with experienced hoop Paul Shiers in the saddle, capitalised on carrying 56.5kg compared to the third-placed and $2.90 favourite Java’s 58kg.

“Paul was spot on. He rode a perfect race,” said Forster, celebrating her second Alice Springs Cup victory after Montalto saluted in 2016.

“It was a really tough field. There were no pushovers.”

REST OF THE FIELD: fourth Exonerate (trainer Ken Rogerson, jockey Wayne Davis); fifth Doon Buggy (Russell Bell, Casey Hunter); sixth Final Hearing (Clarke, Kim Gladwin); seventh Ash Grey (Leanne Gillett, Raymond Vigar); eighth Pinzu (Chris Pollard, Barry Huppatz); ninth Mazzaro (Tayarn Halter, Stan Tsaikos); Moderna’s Arrow (Sarah Robbins, Lorelle Crow); That’s Justified (Terry Gillett, Wayne Kerford).