Doolan savours Cup win
A HOMETOWN Cup win celebrated with family – it does not get much better than that for Mackay trainer Jade Doolan.
While Mackay-based these days, Doolan started her journey with horses at Herbert River Jockey Club, then up to Cairns with her father George.
On Saturday afternoon, in front of a huge crowd as racing returned to Ingham, after meetings had to be transferred to Townsville last year, Doolan lifted the 2019 Ingham Gold Cup with stayer Captains Way.
A bold frontrunning ride from hoop Bonnie Thomson skipped the gelding away by 3½ lengths to win the 2000m event at the huge odds of $17.
The six-year-old had not won for almost a year before Saturday and the emerging trainer savoured the triumph.
“My dad started his training career in Ingham, I spent my first five years there and was involved with the horses from day dot,” Doolan said.
“I have only had my licence for 12 months, so to win my hometown Cup within 12 months, that is pretty good.”
A Cup victory in most towns or cities around Australia usually leads to a big night out but for the returning local, it was spent with those closest to her that have been there for the entire ride.
“Most of my family remain in Ingham, my mum moved back 12 months ago,” Doolan said.
“My grandfather has gone into a nursing home in Ingham over the last week so I took him up the Cup on Saturday night and spent the night with him. He pressed the emergency buzzer and got all the nurses into his room to see the Cup.
“He was pretty impressed and he will keep the Cup in the room with him. He was stoked.”
Doolan credited trackwork rider Aidan Holt for mixing up preparation of Captains Way in recent weeks that led to Saturday’s sharp return to form.
Earlier in the day, Cairns trainers Fred Wieland and Rodney Miller picked up wins while the Miller-trained Barwon ran second in the Cup, more than three lengths behind the winner.