ALL THRILLS AND SPILLS ON CUP DAY

GORDONVALE CUP GLORY BOOSTS BAKER’S HOPES FOR SOUTHERN CAMPAIGN

COMPANY is all that splits Idle Situation and a tilt at Brisbane’s best after Glen Baker’s improving gelding scooped the $15,000 Gordonvale Cup on the way through.

The seven-year-old on Saturday lived up to his $3.50 favouritism tag to claim the 100th edition of the 1800m feature race at the Gordonvale track.

Hoop Sonja Wiseman stayed on the pace early before a surge home landed Idle Situation a 1.3 length triumph over Roy Chillemi pair Marlais and Fields Of Tuscany.

It was a quality win in his fourth run back from a spell that fortified Baker’s hopes of a southern campaign in the future.

“He’s a good little stayer but every time he started doing OK something would go wrong,” Baker said.

“The Amateurs Cup was a bit too early for him but we might have a run at some cups next year.

“I’m also thinking of taking him to Brisbane.

“There’s not a lot stopping us at this point but I wouldn’t mind him having some travelling companions.

“We’ll have a look in the next week or so and see if it’s worth it.

“I took him for a swim (yesterday) and he was bright as a button so he’s pulled up well.”

A return to Brisbane would represent a neat career U-turn for Baker given last year’s cobalt ban looked to all but end his training days.

However, that suspension was later overturned on a technicality, leaving Baker to regather the stable of gallopers that had already been fostered out elsewhere.

“I’m back in to the swing of things now,” he said.

“I’ve got about a dozen in work and I have always got room for more horses.

“It just took a while to get the ship back on an even keel and it (winning the Gordonvale Cup) is another step in the right direction.”

The win in the feature also ensured dedicated Gordonvale family, the Riches, which includes Cameron as club president, savoured the moment given their share in the winning mount.

In Saturday’s other results, Kerry Rockett guided Ricky Ludwig’s Beyond Limits ($8) to a giant victory in the $9000 Class B Handicap (1100m).

Wiseman got the day started with a win aboard He’s A Vella ($1.50F) in the $8000 QTIS Maiden Plate (1100m).

A strong crowd attended the meet, a popular event on the Gordonvale calendar.

Picture: ANNA ROGERS FAST FINISH: Idle Situation (on right) surges home to win the Gordonvale Cup.

Pictures: ANNA ROGERS MOODY MOUNT: Jockey Emily Cass gets a bit of a wild ride when dragged along the rail by her mount Kamarah before the start of the Gordonvale Cup on Saturday before race day officials move in to help calm the startled runner.