Ritchford carries winning cup form to Clifton

NEW stable addition claims Clifton Cup in a thriller.

RACING: Seven-year-old gelding Ritchford continued his fairytale arrival at the Jackie Crompton stable when he raced to a second country feature win for his new connections at Clifton today.

Ritchford ($7) added to his recent Tara Cup win for Crompton with an all-the-way effort in the Pacific Seeds/Pursehouse Rural Clifton Cup Benchmark 60 Handicap (1580m).

The one-time Victorian galloper presented apprentice Sophie Wilcock with a perfect comeback to riding when he dug in to see off runner-up Rather Salubrious ($11) by a short neck.

Gud Onya ($11) was a length back third.

Crompton recently purchased Ritchford via the internet with the intention of winning this month's Tara Cup, raced in memory of her late father and former Tara Cup Ken Dowling.

After claiming the Tara Cup Ritchford has quickly recouped his sale price and he is now in the running to contest next month's Country Cups Challenge Series final at Doomben on November 30.

"We found him on the Trojan website with the intention of winning dad's race and today's win is a great bonus," Crompton said.

"I love being a part of these country cups and we will try to qualify him now for the Country Cups race.

"He needs two more country runs to qualify."

Apprentice Sophie Wilcock returns to the Clifton Cup winner's stall aboard Ritchford.

Wilcock returned on Saturday after a break of more than two months with perfect results.

She followed her cup win with a final race win on Gallopinakis for trainer Rex Lipp.

"Today is my first day back from a bit of a break and that was my first ride," a smiling Wilcock said after her cup success.

"It was a break that has done me good and it's great to be able to come back on a winning note so soon."

The connections of Oakey mare Spezia Lady ($5.50) had good reason to celebrate their trip to Clifton when the five-year-old broke through in the Ray Brunch Machinery QTIS Maiden Plate (1100m) at start number 25.

"She's done a good job picking up a lot of QTIS cheques along they and that was a good effort winning today," winning trainer Bradley Hudson said.

"Good on her owners who have been very patient with her.

"She's a nice mare you can do anything with and a real trier.

"She gives 110% all the time."

Clifton club president George Cross paid tribute to the volunteers who battled crippling drought conditions to help see today's cup meeting go ahead with a huge crowd in attendance.

"Bruce Gilbert from the Toowoomba Regional Council has done a great job," Cross said.

"But we've had plenty of hardworking committee members also put in a lot of hard work with a limited water supply to have the course as good as we could get it today."

 

CLIFTON RESULTS

Track: Firm 2

Rail: True

1._ CLASS B HANDICAP, 1000m: BACKUP BILLY (K. Yoshida, 5.50) 1; Altafox (Wendy Peel, 4.60) 2; Run The Cutter (Tessa Townsend, 6.00) 3.

Then followed: Primmiscuous, Letitripotatochip, Succinite, Imabarman, Aklavik, Craiglea Altona, Ringo's Magic, Perlyse Woman.

Won by sh nk, len. Time: 58. 36 (all raced hand timed).

Winner trained by John Byrne.

2._ BENCHMARK 65 HANDICAP, 1100m: NEW ALLIANCE (Beau Appo, 6.00) 1; Chocolate Oreo (Montanna Savva,5.50) 2; Go Get Sum (Cecily Eaton, 11.00) 3

Then followed: Wine Barrel, Drum Master, Pick Of The Pubs, Mellore, Allena, Jondy Joy, He's A Moral, Classic Beau.

Won by nk, 1¾ lens. Time: 1:03.99.

Winner trained by Rod Hilton.

3._ MAIDEN PLATE, 1100m: SPEZIA LADY (Simone Vella, 5.50) 1; Vienna Spirit (K. Yoshida, 1.50) 2; Pop 'N' Zac (W. O'Connell, 6.00) 3.

Then followed: Sgurr Mor, 10.00 Outback Champ, Stryking Princess, 8.00 Brighter Days, Craiglea Husky. Late scratchings: Massie Whisper, Craiglea Oscar, Top Tinka.

Won by 1 ¾ lens, nk. Time: 1:05.74.

Winner trained by Bradley Hudson.

4._ CLIFTON CUP, BENCHMARK 60 HANDICAP, 1580m: RITCHFORD (Sophie Wilcock, 7.00) 1; Rather Salubrious (Leeanne McCoy, 11.00) 2; Gud Onya (Natalie Morton, 11.00) 3.

Then followed: De Bandit Vega, Boltin' Desire, Just Favulous, Marlahn, A Little Wicked, Glenbawns Dutchess, Fast Arli.

Won by sh nk, len. Time: 1:35.90.

Winner trained by Jackie Crompton.

5._ MAIDEN PLATE, 1580m: GALLOPINAKIS (Sophie Wilcock, 5.00) 1; Simderella (Simone Vella, 3.50) 2; Reg 'N' Kath (N. Evans) 3.

Then followed: Jondy Qualo, Craiglea Gunsmoke, Lips, The Moa Factor, My Cousin Baby failed to finish.

Won by 1¾ lens, 5¾ lens. Time: 1:36.48.

Winner trained by Rex Lipp.