Sinclair trains historic Boolooroo Cup first-four

BY BILL POULOS

Trainer Peter Sinclair created a unique slice of picnic-racing history at Moree when his quartet of runners in the 1400m Boolooroo Cup filled the first four placings in the time-honoured race.

The meeting marked 100 years of picnic racing in Moree, and a huge crowd turned up to celebrate the milestone in perfect autumn weather. Diplomation won the inaugural Boolooroo Cup in 1924 and, 100 years later, Peak Road and apprentice Arthur Pollock – both unknowns before Saturday – arrived in the nick of time to collar the centenary cup.

Pollock – having his first day out as a jockey – guided Peak Road to a narrow win from stablemates Waitapu, Fiocchi and Always Hunting. Fiocchi tried to lead all the way and Waitapu came from the clouds, but Peak Road snuck through at just the right time to score by a half-length.

Sinclair, now based at Murwillumbah, praised his Moree team, saying all credit belonged to stable boss Amee Hobday, apprentice Jacob Golden and strapper Zoe Mather.

“To get the first four across the line in the 100th running of the Boolooroo Cup is truly amazing, and an absolute honour, but all credit goes to Amee and the team,” Sinclair said.

“It’s been an incredible day for the stable. Our jockey was riding at his first meeting and the winner, Peak Road, is the first horse Zoe has led out on race-day. To make it even better, Amee is a part-owner of the winner,” he smiled.

Sinclair can rightly call the Boolooroo Cup his own.

He’s won the race 17 times since Sahara Bounty started the trend in 1995.

Sinclair also trained Midas Boy (2000-2001), Nepelle (2003), Jazzmaker (2007), Crystal Club (2012), Joppick (2013), Tapakeg (2014), One Double (2015), Dungiven (2016), Track Flash (2017-18-19), Liberty Head (2021) and Fiocchi in 2022 and 2023.

‘We’ll look at Mallawa in two weeks’ time, see how they all pull up, and probably head that way,” Sinclair said.

The trainer won last year’s Mallawa Cup with Fiocchi, third on Saturday after consecutive wins in 2022 and 2023.

Punters, patrons, owners, trainers, jockeys and horse floats head west to Mallawa on June 8 to take in round two of bush racing’s Golden Triangle.

The meeting, first held in 1930, features the $12,000 Mallawa Cup (1400m) and $10,000 Mallawa Bracelet (1000m). Supporting races are each worth $7000.