NZ Glory in Newcastle Cup

The feature race at Newcastle Jockey Club’s two-day spring carnival was taken out by the hardened David Payne galloper Winning Glory (NZ) (One Cool Cat), winning the Group 3 A$184,800 XXXX Gold Newcastle Cup (2300m).

Ridden by Sydney’s leading jockey from last season Nash Rawiller, the son of One Cool Cat had his work cut out for him as he had to lead the field up to Jim Cassidy on the breakaway leader, with the pressure being applied a long way from the winning post.

Winning Glory was able to reign in the leader and fight off all other challengers for a well-earned victory by a head, leading home a NZB quinella as he defeated the Chris Waller trained Lucripetous (NZ) (Pentire).

“It was a tough win. If you look at the race he had to do work early on, he had to catch that leader from the 800m so he had a long run and it was a very good effort,” commented trainer David Payne.

“We always targeted a Listed or Group 3 race somewhere with him but he always has to do it the tough way being a front runner so he has always been easy pickings at the end of his races. Yesterday he had a little bit of a breather so that helped.

“He has been in the stable for about 11 months this preparation and we were going to tip him out after yesterday but now we might look at something down the line and target a race in a couple of weeks.”

The consistent six-year-old brought up the eighth win of his 37 start career, his first at stakes level, and cracked the A$500,000 mark for his owners Glenvallen Investments Pty Ltd.

The 2009 Karaka Premier Sale graduate was purchased by Mr Li Fung Lok from Hallmark Stud for $100,000.

Bred by Milan Park Stud Ltd, the son of Khozaam mare Alpine Beauty is from the famous ‘Heights’ family that includes Battle Heights, Mapperly Heights, Royal Heights and Melbourne Cup winner Viewed.