Cup tilt emotions run high
Tighe camp chasing good news after Winx tragedy
TEARS have flowed in the home of Winx’s part-owner Peter Tighe over the last few days but a Caulfield Cup win with Finche could be just the pick-me-up that’s needed at the end of a tragic week.
Tighe’s wife Patty has been making regular phone calls to check on the welfare of Winx after she lost her first foal in a sad development that touched the racing world.
“It’s been quite an emotional week,” Tighe said.
“Patty has quite an attachment to Winx.
“We have been in touch with the farm and the carers looking after her.
“Winx is fine. She got a good report this morning.
“She is starting to bounce back.”
The Tighes – and trainer Chris Waller – will be aiming to win their first Caulfield Cup with former import Finche set for Saturday’s race and the Melbourne Cup right from the moment he was beaten by less than a length and a half in the Melbourne Cup last year.
Finche was given a lengthy break and came third in his first race since last year’s Melbourne Cup, the Group 2 Chelmsford at Randwick last month.
Then he finished third behind stablemate and Caulfield
Cup favourite Verry Elleegant in the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes.
Finche’s run in the Turnbull was full of merit considering he was wide with no cover throughout but was still in the midst of battle late.
The Finche camp’s only concern is if forecast rain takes the Caulfield track into
the heavy zone because he is a long-striding horse.
Since the tragic news about Winx’s foal, Tighe has had two winners with Yonkers scoring at Caulfield on Wednesday and Nyami scoring at Kembla Grange on Thursday.
But he admits emotions will bubble over at the end of a sad week if Finche manages
to claim the Caulfield Cup.
“It is always a pick-me-up to win a race and especially at a time like this,” Tighe said.
“Chris and I have spoken during the week and I have said: ‘Well, we just have to go on and win a Caulfield Cup.’
“It’s something neither of us have done and I’d very much like to do it with Chris.”