News

Loved Up proves a real winner at Scone

18th May 2015

Border Mail - Brent Goode - Monday, 18 May 2015

Trainer Brett ­Cavanough landed the biggest pay day of his successful career after his brilliant filly Loved Up scored an impressive ­victory in the $403,300 Inglis 3YO Scone ­Guineas, (1400 metres) on Saturday.

Ridden by Richard Bensley, Loved Up earned connections $240,950 after claiming the richest prize on offer over the two-day Scone Cup Carnival.

It easily eclipsed Cavanough’s previous biggest win with Helideck earning $113,400 when winning the $175,000 Prime Minister’s Cup (1300m) on the Gold Coast in 2008.

Still at the tail of the field turning for home, Bensley took a huge ­gamble when he elected to stick to the fence instead of hooking out wide in the charge to the winning post.

The gamble paid huge dividends when Loved Up ($7.50) burst through on the fence 200m from home and careered away to defeat Nayeli ($7) by 1¼ lengths. Heavens Above ($14) was a further length away in third.

“It was a terrific ride on an outstanding filly,” Cavanough said.

“At the top of the straight I didn’t know what Ritchie was going to do because I didn’t burden him with instructions and he had an open book.

“Once they straightened I was watching the favourite Sure And Fast ($2.50-fav) who was alongside us run into a black hole.

“Next second Loved Up got through a gap and it was surreal watching her unleash her devastating sprint.

“I just couldn’t believe it, it was pretty amaz-ing.

“To win a race on a stand-alone Saturday meeting in the Hunter Valley which is the heartland of NSW breeding industry, it puts your name up in lights and probably ranks as the biggest win of my career.”

The victory also handed Bensley his biggest payday after winning the $140,000 Luskin Star Stakes (1400m) earlier in the day aboard Artlee.

Loved Up has now won over $500,000 in prizemoney and bonuses from six wins and two minor placings from 13-starts.

The filly resumed from a spell in February and has won the $100,000 SDRA Championship Qualifier, $50,300 Albury Guineas and Scone Guineas this preparation.

She was also narrowly beaten in the $101,600 Wagga Town Plate at her previous start.

Cavanough, his wife, Lauren, alongside Albury racing committeemen Gerald Judd and Glenn Chapman are among the part-owners.

Judd, Chapman and Commercial Club president Graeme Edgar chartered a flight to Scone to watch the star filly. “I call them the fly-up foremen,” Cavanough said.

He said he would resist targeting the Queensland winter carnival with Loved Up now set to head to the spelling paddock.