Home team snatches win with perfect plan

LONGFORD trainer Alana Fulton celebrated a special win yesterday when Vandermeer powered his way to an effortless victory in the Longford Cup over 1800m.

Vandermeer settled midfield and three-wide without cover until apprentice Teagan Voorham slotted the eight-year-old into the oneout position with cover while Miss Hissy set a sizzling pace in front.

But acting on the trainer’s instructions, Voorham allowed the gelding to cut loose 600m from home and within the blink of an eye the son of Excellent Art bounded three lengths clear and extended up the short home straight.

Carrying only 51kg after the jockey’s 3kg claim, Vandermeer ($7.50) hit the line six lengths clear of the heavily backed favourite Kanji ($3.70), who ran on well, with Beaufort Lad ($4) a length away third.

Fulton was elated with the win and suggested it could be the start of a winning streak for the horse who cost her only $5000.

“I’ve had some good wins but winning your hometown cup is a bit special,” she said.

“This horse is trained on the track and we were confident that he could win if Teagan [Voorham] could ride him as instructed and she did it to the letter.

“The plan was to let him settle where he was comfortable and to make sure he was not covered up and then to take off 600m from home and that’s exactly how it panned out.

“The horse was magnificent and now we can look to the future with confidence.

“We have a couple of options and that’s to go to the Devonport Cup next Wednesday or the Brighton Cup in Hobart two days later but ultimately we’d love to give him a chance to run in the Hobart and Launceston cups.”

Voorham has only been an apprentice for five months and her first winner was aboard Vandermeer at Spreyton back in August, where she rode four winners at her first meeting as a race rider.

“I love this horse and to win a Longford Cup on him is absolutely brilliant,” Voorham said. ANOTHER Longford-based trainer, John Blacker, will persevere with a Tasmanian Oaks campaign with his filly Gone Girl after she delivered a top effort to easily win a maiden over 1400m.

Gone Girl (Craig Newitt) was having only her fifth start but made light work of it to career away from her rivals in the home straight to win by 2½ lengths easing up.

“I’ve always believed this filly had staying potential and while this is only a modest maiden win at Longford I believe she will be better when she gets over a longer trip so we’ll aim her at the Oaks,” Blacker said.