Mercurial Lad captured his second Southern District feature in as many months with victory in the $30,000 Ted Ryder Cup (1660m) at Murrumbidgee Turf Club on Friday.
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Promising Canberra apprentice jockey Patrick Scorse followed in his father’s footsteps by combining with Barbara Joseph to win a Ted Ryder Cup.
Scorse’s father John combined with Joseph to win the 1996 Ted Ryder Cup with Val de Prix, and on Friday it was Patrick’s turn to win the feature with the Canberra trainer and her son Paul Jones.
Mercurial Lad ($3.20) won the $70,000 Snake Gully Cup (1400m) last month and then made it the Ted Ryder Cup double on Friday.
It was a gem of a ride from Scorse, who gave him the perfect trip then saved him up for one strong finishing burst, in his first attempt at the mile.
Scorse was over the moon.
“It’s just unreal. I can’t believe it,” Scorse said.
“That’s my actual first win at Wagga so if you’re going to do something, do it right I guess.”
Mercurial Lad won by 1½ lengths from American Time ($16) and $3.10 favourite Cha Cha King. It was an effort that did not surprise Scorse.
“I ride him every day at trackwork and every gallop I know what he’s got because I’m not letting him off the bridal and I know what he’s finishing on. We galloped both Girl’s Own and Mercurial Lad on Monday and I was happy to get Mercurial Lad out of the two of them, I know what that fella’s got under him and it’s astonishing,” he said.
Joseph had nothing but praise for horse and jockey.
“It was a brilliant ride, I couldn’t have asked any more,” Jones said.
“The horse played his part, obviously, and he played his part at the start because I said it was going to come down to how well he jumped. I don’t think I could have planned it any better.
“He probably won it because he sat there, and he sat there, and he sat there, and he sat there and he waited until the 150.
“I said to Pat, we know how brilliant this horse is, he can win 1200 metre races. If we can get that sprint at the end of this mile, I said if you’re within two or three lengths of the leaders coming into the corner, hold him together, and when you go for him, go for him, because he’ll let down and leave them standing.”
Joseph said the Ted Ryder Cup was a race the stable love to win.
“Mum and I always aim for this carnival before Christmas,” he said.
Wodonga galloper Cha Cha King had every chance in front but battled on gallantly for third place for trainer Peter Maher and apprentice Nick Heywood.
Overdue finished last.
