Darryn Pateman, affectionately dubbed the ‘King Of Country Racing’ in Western Australia, is on the brink of a rare milestone as he eyes victory in Saturday’s Broome Cup (2200m). Should any of his four runners salute, it will mark his 100th WA Cup triumph, cementing his place in the history books of regional racing.
From his Karnup base south of Perth, Pateman has spent over four decades travelling across the state, amassing close to 700 wins, predominantly on provincial and country circuits. Despite his extraordinary strike rate, he remains modest. “It always does mean a lot winning these country cups,” Pateman told Racing WA. “The other day we got our 99th in the Kimberley Cup, we’re one short of the ton. I’ve won an Australia Day Cup, three or four Derby Cups, a couple of Mount Barker Cups – they all add up. They’re mini milestones along the way. I’ve been around a while so you have to keep attacking.”
Pateman first claimed the Broome Cup in 2022 with Ombudsman and this year saddles Gambler’s Gold, Divine Mercy, Hafey and Masatora. Gambler’s Gold, runner-up in last year’s Cup, has been ultra-consistent with three recent placings including a third to stablemate Divine Mercy in the Kimberley Cup. “Everything he’s done has been perfect. He’s dropping in weight; barrier won’t worry him because he gets back. This race has been his main aim since we’ve come up here,” Pateman said. He jumps from barrier 12 with 55.5kg under Kyra Yuill.
Divine Mercy was dominant in the Kimberley Cup but faces the challenge of overcoming a 25-year ‘curse’ – no Kimberley Cup winner has gone on to win the Broome Cup in that time. He has barrier eight and Natika Riordan aboard. Hafey will enjoy the gun draw of barrier one, while Masatora looms as a roughie after hitting the line strongly in the Kimberley Cup, retaining Jerry Noske. “He’ll need every bit of the 2200m,” Pateman said. While reluctant to single out one, Pateman gave a slight nod to Gambler’s Gold and Divine Mercy as his leading hopes.
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