By all rights, the Donna Scott-trained Our Last Cash shouldn’t have made the race track, let alone be in consideration for this year’s $2 million The Kosciuszko.
Mother Nature ensured the galloper’s journey was much more difficult for connections.
Out of Cash Up Lady, the Magnus gelding lost his dam two weeks after being born in late 2017 and was hand-fed every three hours.
“It was really unfortunate, as it was two weeks in, and she died of birthing complications,” Scott said.
“We tried to find a foster mum, which can be challenging, so it meant poor Rhys (Holleran) had the unfortunate job of being his mother and getting up and feeding him every three hours.
“We ended up getting a nanny and had someone in the paddock with him, looking after him, but he definitely holds a special place with us.”
The rising six-year-old defied those challenges and became an outstanding country galloper, starting 11 times while registering four wins and three placings on his way to earning connections over $100,000 in prizemoney.
Still, Scott admitted he wasn’t perfect and joked that he needed counselling after a tough upbringing.
“He’s quirky and hard work with travelling, and he has his issues, and sometimes I joke about and say he needs a therapist,” Scott laughed.
“He’s turned out all right, and he’s tall enough, but he’s still a bit light on and a bit like premmie (premature) babies; he’s just taken some time.
“He’s been a bit behind the eight ball compared to other yearlings and two-and-three-year-olds, but we’re hoping that he really hits his straps this prep.”
Our Last Cash was ultra-impressive last preparation, putting seven lengths on an excellent field in the 1300m Class Four Southern Districts Country Championships preview at Wagga on February 9.
He came out two weeks later and ran a very good second to the Ron Stubbs-trained Bianco Vilano in the 1400m Southern Districts Country Championships qualifier at Albury on February 25.
In the $500,000 Country Championships final at Royal Randwick on April 1, he handled the heavy eight conditions over the seven furlongs and looked the winner at one stage before finishing fifth, beaten only 2.5 lengths by the Brett Robb-trained Sizzle Minizzle.
“We were over the moon with the result, but looking at the race, we were probably a little bit disappointed that he fell in a hole with 100m to go, but I think that came down to me, not the horse,” Scott said.
“As I’ve said, he’s a quirky horse, and maybe I should have given him a trial in between, and not thinking it would be a heavy track, he might have been a tad underdone.”
Since he ran in the Country Championships, the Albury galloper has enjoyed a 16-week spell before catching the eye with an impressive trial win over the 900m on a heavy ten Albury track on July 19.
“He’s had that spell and came back in great order,” Scott said.
“He went a bit better in that trial than we thought he might have, and he’s had a good gallop since, and now the plan is to give him a couple of runs and try and target The Kosciuszko.”
Scott will trek to Flemington on Saturday, with Our Last Cash contesting the 1100m Benchmark 70 Handicap.
If all goes to plan at Flemington, they will head to Sydney for another metropolitan race to show their galloper’s wares to the all-important NSW audience and potential slot holders.
“He’ll be first-up down the Flemington straight, and we’ll see how he goes with that race,” Scott said.
“He’s not a first-up type of horse, but his rating is high, and if he gets through that run, we’ll target Sydney.”
His half-brother Lord Von Costa (Von Costa de Hero x Cashed Up Lady) is a three-time Flemington winner, registering victories in the 2016 Listed A.R Creswick Final (1200m) and the 2020 Quality All Victorian Sprint Series Final (1200m).
Scott hopes Our Last Cash similarly takes to Flemington.
“He (Lord Von Costa) loved the Flemington straight, so hopefully, this fella might like the straight, too, and we’ll find out on Saturday,” Scott said.
“Plus, it is easier to go to Flemington than six hours up the freeway to Sydney.”
The Albury trainer wants her gelding to make a statement in his next two runs and earn a slot in The Kosciuszko, as she and her connections want to be part of a race that is fast becoming the showcase of country racing in NSW and Australia.
“It is a thrill, and I think it is great for country racing,” Scott said.
“Racing NSW cops plenty of criticism but racing in NSW couldn’t be in a better place.
“We’ve got Country Boosted races, the Country Champs, Kosciuszko, and Highways, and yes, they are hard to win, but it’s something to dream of being a country trainer.
“It’s like our Melbourne Cup, and it’s a realistic chance of getting into a rich prizemoney race, plus all these different races make good talking points.”
A $51 chance in pre-nomination markets, Our Last Cash will be one of a few outstanding Southern Districts gallopers set to be in line for a slot in this year’s The Kosciuszko.
Other significant players include the Mitchell Beer-trained Mnementh ($13), Ron Stubbs-trained Bianco Vilano ($16), the Scott Spackman-trained Rocket Tiger ($17), and the Gary Colvin-trained Another One ($26).
“I know Ron Stubbs is setting Bianco Vilano for the race, and there’s Mnementh, but I’m not sure what Mitch is doing with him,” Scott said.
“There are some good horses in the Southern Districts, but they sort of discard us down here, but we’re never far away from Country Champs and The Kosciuszko, and I think we can pull something off.”
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