Tears have turned to triumph for the connections of Count De Rupee, who has scored an emotionally charged win for local trainers Robert and Luke Price and their stable apprentice Brock Ryan in the $1 million The Gong.
Three weeks ago, the trio had to endure the heart break of finishing a narrow second in the $7.5 million Golden Eagle when Count De Rupee was run down in the finals bounds.
But it was Count De Rupee’s ($4.80 equal fav) day on Saturday as he shot clear to comfortably win the 1600m race by 1-1/4 lengths over Nudge ($11) with Yamazaki ($26) third.
“After the Golden Eagle, I said I felt like crying because we got beaten – today I feel like crying because we won,” Brock Ryan said.
“Especially for the bosses, Robert and Luke. They are massive supporters of mine and they promote me as much as they can, give me every opportunity under the sun and it is so good to capitalise for them.
“This is the best memory of my racing career so far.
“Six years ago, I rode my first winner at Adaminaby at a non-TAB meeting. Here we are today winning a $1 million race on my home track.”
The Gong victory capped a stellar afternoon for Ryan, giving him a treble after earlier victories aboard The Guru and Divine Breath for Kembla trainer Theresa Bateup.
It also continued what has been a breakout season for the young rider, who has worked his way back following a couple of heavy falls to celebrate his first Group win on the Price stable’s Jamaea in the Furious Stakes in September.
Co-trainer Luke Price believes Count De Rupee is good enough to develop into an Everest horse next year and he hopes to showcase the gelding’s wares in the autumn with the Galaxy, T J Smith and All Aged Stakes all on the radar.
“I really believe the world is his oyster over the next 12 months and two years because he is only going to get better,” Price said.
“We’ll go where the big money is, I suspect, so we’re going to look for an Everest ticket next year.”
The Chris Waller-trained Atishu started equal favourite with Count De Rupee but failed to raise the hopes of her supporters and finished eleventh.
I Am Superman was a late scratching from the race due to the deteriorating track, which was downgraded to a soft six after the sixth race.