Wagga jockey Nick Heywood produced a brilliant ride to steer Dreams Of Paris to victory in Sunday’s $27,000 Cootamundra Cup (1600m).
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Albury trainer Mitchell Beer got his time in the Southern District off to the best possible start as Dreams Of Paris ($5.00) stormed to victory in the feature race.
After starting from one of the outside gates, Heywood got Dreams Of Paris to the fence just behind the leaders and only went around one horse on the way to a dominant 1½ length victory in the Cup.
Beer, who only recently moved his operation from Mornington to Albury, had nothing but praise for Heywood’s ride.
“What an incredible ride,” Beer said.
“We were drawn bad and Nick came out and said this will win, leave the rest up to him.
“It was a fantastic ride.”
It was the third leg of a Cup day winning treble for Heywood, after earlier wins on Nothing ($6.50) and Look Behind ($3.20).
Dreams Of Paris had not raced anywhere but in the city this preparation and the drop in class showed as the five-year-old mare raced away from her rivals to score.
It also justified Beer’s decision to scratch the mare from Flemington last Wednesday to target the Cootamundra Cup.
“She drew bad at Flemington on Wednesday so we scratched her,” Beer said.
“It’s three hours to Flemington and two hours here so location wise, (Albury) is perfect.
“I’m bloody rapt.”
It was a bold decision for Beer to make the move from Mornington but it’s one that he could not be happier with for now.
“It just backs up our call coming to the area, it’s bloody terrific,” he said.
“I’ve got to think my staff and owners. The last month has been hard but while I’ve got a good team of horses, my staff are even better.
“There’s going to be a few beers out of the Cup tonight.”
The Gary Colvin-trained favourite Danetrille ($4.00) worked home strongly to grab second place, while fellow Wagga horse Willy White Socks ($12.00) stuck on gamely for third place.
Zarlu rattled home out wide for fourth, while top weight Itsa Fait Accompli was not far away in fifth place.
Wagga trainers were not without success with Chris Heywood winning the first, the Porter Equipment Maiden Handicap (1100m), with Nothing.
Nothing is a half brother to Leucura and from a family that the stable has had a lot of success with.
Colvin won the second, the South West Slopes Credit Union Mick Donoghue Maiden Plate (1400m), with recent stable addition Look Behind.
Look Behind was only having her second start for Colvin after joining his team from the John Sadler stable.