By Perditta O’connor
The Warwick Cup had historians scrambling for their books over the weekend, after judges declared a dead heat for a main event.
Warwick Jockey club officials estimate a crowd of in excess of 1200 attended Saturday’s Warwick Cup meeting.
More than 150 acceptances were received for the programme forcing the seven race card to be extended to nine races.
The big crowd enjoyed the perfect conditions and witnessed some excellent racing and thrilling finishes. The two major events on the card were the Warwick Credit Union Cup and the Frasers Livestock Transport Newmarket handicap.
Toowoomba trainer, Matt Kropp, was shooting for his third Warwick Cup on the trot, having won the 2019 and 2020 Cups with Rosie Posie.
Matt has an enviable record in country cups, combined with apprentice jockey Isabella (Bella) Rabjones, and kept his winning record intact this weekend when Tears Of Love narrowly beat Toowoomba galloper Eskdale Girl ($9.50) and the locally trained Colpo Di Tamburo ($7.50).
Saturday’s win makes it three Warwick Cups on the trot for Matt Kropp who is a prolific trainer of Country Cups.
The five year old horse was a popular winner with punters, who sent the gelding out $3.80 favourite in a good betting race.
Choosing a career as a jockey is never an easy gig and it was a win filled with emotion for rider Bella Rabjones who handled the horse perfectly.
Bella revealed after the race that she has suffered some mental health issues and it was Tears Of Love who turned her fortunes around and helped her through her toughest days.
There were omens in the breeding for any punter who knew the story. The gelding is by Love Conquers All out of the mare Here No Tears.
The other main event on the programme was the running of the time honoured Frasers Livestock Transport Newmarket Handicap.
It was a nail-biting finish with vising gallopers Wait A Minute and Rocky Nugget going to the line locked together.
Neither Jockeys Bella Rabjones (Wait a Minute) or Jasmine Cornish (Rocky Nugget) nor the connections knew which horse had won.
It was no real surprise when the judges declared the result a dead heat after examining the photo finish.
It sent race historians scrambling for the record books as it is believed it is the first time in the races long history that there has been a dead heat.
Rocky Nugget ($4.40) is trained in Beaudesert by Greg Cornish and was well handled by Greg’s daughter and apprentice Jasmine Cornish.
Wait A Minute ($2.50 fav) was well handled in the run by Bella Rabjones for Cup winning trainer Matt Kropp.
The very next race Kropp and Jasmine Cornish combined to win the Warwick Hotel Handicap with smart type Festival Prince ($2.10 fav).
