The Brett and Georgie Cavanough training combination etched a highlight in their record books as Chidiac cruised to the winner’s circle in Saturday’s Country Championships Final (1400m) at Royal Randwick.
Trainer Brett Cavanough, with a career haul surpassing 1100 wins, expressed the heartfelt nature of sharing the moment.
“I’ve got to try and hold it together a bit, very special today to do it with Georgie,” Cavanough said.
“She tipped Chidiac all week, she had faith in her.”
This season’s new alliance saw Georgie Cavanough back the mare from the outset.
“She’s been my pick all along, she didn’t let us down, she’s a very classy mare,” she said.
“This is great – I couldn’t do it without Mum and Dad, it’s all just very exciting.”
Coffs Harbour product Zac Purton, now a Hong Kong star, enjoyed linking with country connections for the big win.
“I was a country boy my whole childhood, so it’s just great to team up with someone from there and win a race as important as this,” Purton said.
“She travelled really well, at no stage of the race did she give me any concerns.
“She was straight into the bridle, really happy and comfortable where she was in the going.
“Coming up the rise she was travelling so well but I thought she’s been here for a while, is she going to empty out, but she kept going all the way.”
The $5.50 elect Chidiac quickened away mid-straight and resisted Graceful Ellen ($61) by one length, Micro Mikki ($91) back one-and-a-half lengths more for bronze.
It cements Cavanough’s prowess in country majors, alongside the 2020 The Kosciuszko with It’s Me.
Cavanough detailed his guidance to Purton regarding the mare’s ride.
“Zac just took bad luck out of the equation, he made it his race,” he said.
“I just said whatever you do, cuddle her for as long as you can and when you go for her, she is just sharp as.”
From unpretentious beginnings at Quirindi, this five-year-old Better Than Ready mare has six successes from 11 starts and eyes grander prizes.
“We might look at the Stradbroke Handicap in Brisbane,” Cavanough said.
Gerry Harvey’s mare made it a day to remember, succeeding Blue Door of John Singleton in the Kindergarten Stakes.
Backing Considered ($3.60) settled for fifth, her handler Matthew Dunn hinting at campaign fatigue for the filly.
“I think she has come to the end of it,” Dunn said.
“She won her heat six weeks ago and it’s a long time to keep them going. But she won six straight so she has done a wonderful job.”
Sports betting enthusiasts can track Country Championships Final runners in future via racing odds at reputable platforms.
