Galah breaks drought in QTC Cup

Trainer Peter Snowden and jockey Kerrin McEvoy combined to wrap up a winning double when Galah scored a narrow win in the Group 2 $175,000 Magic Millions QTC Cup (1300m) at Eagle Farm today.

Galah

Galah broke a nineteen month winning drought by winning the Group 2 QTC Cup. Photo by Daniel Costello

The Darley team scored earlier in the day with Detours taking out the Listed $100,000 Channel Seven Bright Shadow Handicap (1200m).

Galah broke a nineteen month winning drought today after putting the writing on the board with a promising run in the Group 1 $500,000 The Distinctive Homes Goodwood (1200m) at Morphettville early last month.

Snowden said that Galah was one of the stables best three year olds last season but lost his way and hasn’t won since taking out the Group 3 $250,000 Carbine Club Stakes (1600m) at Flemington in November 2011.

“As a three year old he looked like being one of our better horses, but they do that, they hit a spot where they just go off into Disneyland,” Snowden said.

“He was good today and that’s the main thing and this win might get him back on track.

“He has been racing well without luck.”

“His first up run at Morphettville was very good, he covered a lot of ground, he was very brave on the line, Kerrin was wrapped with the way he finished through the line.”

“He travelled really well, looked fantastic today, the softish track too took a part and right down in the weights, he was weighted on the minimum. He was thrown in on weights, it was a race race he had to win.”

The Group 1 $1.36m AAMI Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm next week was never on the agenda for Galah and Snowden will wait four weeks and run him in the Listed $175,000 Reed Property Group Glasshouse Handicap (1400m) at the Sunshine Coast.

“I think the Glasshouse is the right race for him,” Snowden said.

“He likes to be on the fresh side too. He’s a colt, he thinks a bit, being fresh he’s more aggressive in his races, he wants to be there and it’s probably the right way to go.”

McEvoy made his move before the home turn and brought Galah wide and fought hard all the way down the straight to get the judge’s nod in a very tight three way photo over the unlucky Conservatorium and local sprinter Griffon.

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.