A HORSE with Kiwi bloodlines, an owner who works in Brisbane but has country ties and a Toowoomba trainer has captured the 2019 Texas Cup (1200m).
Scrabble, ridden by Jodi Worley and trained by Matt Kropp, turned heads with a startling win in the $15,000 bush feature.
Coming at his 47th outing, and not without some worrying moments, Scrabble's ninth win brought broad smiles to the faces of Kropp and part-owner Rob Picking, among others.
Picking, a builder who works in Brisbane, was raised in the bush, especially around the St George district where the family had grazing interests.
"Rob loves the races," Kropp said.
"His dad had horses with Darryl Gollan back in the day and Rob loves nothing more than getting to the bush cup meetings.
"I cannot remember ever having a runner in the cup before so winning was good. It's not too far from us but we just never seem to get there.
"The horse missed the start by a couple of lengths and at one stage he was probably 10 lengths off the leader but zipped home and won pretty well in what they tell me was a record."
Despite the win, by three-quarters of a length over Pieridae ($2.40 favourite) and New Alliance ($4.80) in 1min 8.85secs (hand-timed), Kropp won't be aiming too high with Scrabble ($4.40).
Asked whether the seven-year-old might be given an opportunity on his home track at Clifford Park, Kropp said his preference was to aim for similar bush cups.
Scrabble is a gelded son of Montjeu's staying son Nom Du Jeu, winner of the 2008 Australian Jockey Club Derby (2400m) at Royal Randwick, and which was retired to stud duty in New Zealand after running last of 13 in So You Think's Cox Plate of 2009.
On the distaff side, Scrabble is from Tibouchina, by the dual hemisphere breeding influence Exceed And Excel from Swinburn.
Speaking of Clifford Park, rider Skye Bogenhuber sealed a highly successful afternoon and evening for women jockeys with a treble aboard Coup (Class 1), Iced (QTIS 3YO) and Golden Symphony (Maiden).
Earlier in the day Hannah Phillips won three races on the Bundaberg card - Ten Taubada's (Benchmark 60), Al's Briefs (Iron Jack Open) and Gambit (Benchmark 55).
As well Sophie Wilcock was a three-time winner through Il Bandito (Class 3), Haramain (Class B) and Smooth Hustler (Open) at the Roma races.