Yesterday, Wednesday January 26th, there was plenty of great Australia Day racing action taking place and in the feature Warwick Farm event, veteran stayer Lang claimed an upset win in the $100,000 Listed Australia Day Cup (2400m).
Proving he still has what it takes to win at stakes level, eight-year-old Lord Ballina gelding Lang went out as an $18 chance in the 2011 Australia Day Cup after finishing dead last at his most recent run in the Frank Underwood Stakes at Rosehill on January 15.
On Australia Day however Kembla Grange galloper Lang was given a strong forward running ride by jockey Taylor Lovelock-Wiggins, leaving the rest of the field behind including his highly fancied stable mate, the fellow Gwenda Markwell-trained Agent Bauer ($3.20) who could only manage seventh.
Claiming his first win in three years, Lang ($18) finished a length ahead of fellow roughie Tide ($31) on Wednesday, with Bid Spotter ($6) a gallant third just a further half-head back.
The Chris Waller-trained Strike One, the $2.90 favourite on the tote, finished fifth and length and a half away from the surprise winner.
The Australia Day Cup victory was just Lang’s fourth win from 62 career starts, his prize money boosted to a little over $400,000.
The next major autumn feature will take place at Moonee Valley this Friday night when the Group 2 Australia Stakes (1200m) takes place.
Get in on the autumn racing action right now at Luxbet and enjoy a free bet up to $400 by joining and quoting the codeword BONUSBET!
2011 Australia Day Cup Results & Finishing Order
| Place | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Margin | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | LANG (NZ) | Taylor Lovelock-Wiggins | Gwenda Markwell | – | $18 |
| 2 | TIDE | Kerrin McEvoy | Guy walter | 1 | $31 |
| 3 | BID SPOTTER | Brenton Avdulla | Graeme Rogerson | 1.1 | $6 |
| 4 | MR LATAR | Kathy O’Hara | Garry Frazer | 1.2 | $21 |
| 5 | STRIKE ONE (GB) | Nash Rawiller | Chris Waller | 1.5 | $2.90(F) |
| 6 | BROM BROM | Tim Clark | Joseph Pride | 1.9 | $10 |
| 7 | AGENT BAUER | Christian Reith | Gwenda Markwell | 3.2 | $3.20 |
| 8 | WARRINGAH (GB) | Glyn Schofield | Chris Waller | 4.4 | $21 |
| 9 | BAKUP (NZ) | Nathan Berry | John Steinmetz | 4.9 | $41 |
| 10 | HALFWAYTOLONDON | Blake Spriggs | Ken Callaughan | 8.8 | $51 |
