Oldstager uncatchable in the Boort Cup
Yucatchim wins the Boort Cup
19 March 2012 - Manangatang veteran Yucatchim ended a 12 month losing streak to claim the Loddon Valley Stud Boort Pacing Cup on Sunday. In a thrilling finish Yucatchim was driven a perfect race by Leigh Sutton to score a last stride win over race favourite Amadmancomesundone. Raced under blue skies and in front of a great crowd, the Cup returned to its home seven years after the Boort Club staged their last race meet. But rather than welcome a new era by crowning a rising star of the sport, Boort, Australia's oldest surviving harness racing club rewarded a nine-year-old stalwart for perseverance and longevity. Indeed, it would be a case of third time lucky for Bill Carroll’s one-town pacer after Yucatchim had run fifth and third in the 2009 and 2011 editions of Boort’s flagship feature. Sprinting like a horse half his age Yucatchim, the pacer dubbed the Manangatang Marvel by Victorian racecaller Craig Rail was fittingly called home by that very man to claim the biggest success of his 136-start career. Rattling home in a final fraction of 29.3 to complete a 2:04.7 mile rate, Yucatchim vanquished Amadmancomesundone by 1.3m with fellow veteran No Encore almost 13m astern in third. Earlier in the day, eight-year-old Classic Adam gelding Gazoline ensured it was a trying day for punters by winning the Doyles Boomspraying Boort Trotters Cup in narrow but impressive fashion. Leading throughout, Peter Rothacker’s genuine squaregaiter rated 2:07.3 to claim his third win this term at $26.60 on the local TAB. Victoria's Minister for Racing Dr. Denis Napthine was on track for the big day and said the Victorian Coalition Government is thrilled to see its election promise to re-open the Boort track to harness racing come to fruition. “The Boort Harness Racing Club, led by harness racing identity and Club President John Campbell, is to be applauded for their determination to bring racing back to Boort," Dr Napthine said. “In order for the track to be brought back to racing standard, the Coalition Government provided $174,600 to undertake major works to realign and rebuild the track and improve facilities for patrons including resurfaced track, new safety fencing, paving, lighting towers, a standing start tower and broadcast infrastructure so the races can be televised around Australia.”
