There comes a point when a writer will have used every appropriate adjective and superlative to describe something or someone.
It gets to a stage where it becomes lazy and an easy way out for a journalist because how many things are indeed ‘astounding’ and how many victories are ‘gritty’ after being ‘most fiercely’ contested?
On the other hand, certain people or events don’t need all the added wordsmanship or jazzing up, and that applies to the Golden Triangle.
The coveted triple crown, run between Moree, Mallawa, and Talmoi Picnic Race Club meetings, is, most simply put, essential, if not intrinsic, to the communities surrounding Moree.
The three race days, which draw big crowds to the region during an epic four weeks of races, are some of the last remaining relics of what used to be the glorious NSW picnic racing scene.
Still, the Golden Triangle extends so far beyond these three race meetings.
Owners in each community strive to find the right horse to win their local cup and dream that they might snag the right one that can win all three.
The meetings bring money into these communities, but most importantly, these race days provide an outlet for families and friends to catch up in one of the more unique racing settings.
The Golden Triangle has a vast history of ninety-three years, providing some of the great moments in the NSW racing game since 1930.
Most notably, legendary trainer Eric Jurd, his gallant steed Mulgate, and famous picnic hoop Bobby Mackay became the first trio to win the Golden Triangle in 1961.
For a horse to claim the ‘Grand Slam’ of NSW picnic racing, one must win Moree’s Boolooroo Cup, the Mallawa Cup, and Garah’s iconic Talmoi Cup, which Mackay did on the back of Mulgate, which turned out to be a 31-year first.
Thirteen years later, it was the great Passing Trade making history, being the only horse to win the Triple Crown twice, firstly in 1970 for Harold ‘Bubby’ Wann and again in 1973 for Clive Dixon.
The 1970s was an exciting time in the Golden Triangle’s history, with the Arthur Squires-trained Yakinova achieving the feat again in 1976.
North West racing fans would have to wait another 12 years before it happened again, with Trevor Smith and Gefilte etching their name in the history books in 1988.
For a while, it appeared as though the Golden Triangle was beyond the capabilities of the modern horse and trainer.
Some went close, but it wasn’t until Peter Sinclair kicked off his dominance in the North West that we saw another champion of the track emerge.
The Moree trainer had some close calls, but it was Tapakeg that broke the 26-year-old drought in 2014.
Tim Phillips was the leading picnic jockey at the time, winning the NSW amateur premierships in 2013, 2014, and 2015.
He teamed up with Sinclair, and the rest is history, with Tapakeg the fifth and most recent Golden Triangle champion.
More history will be created on Saturday, and Sinclair could become the first trainer to prepare two Triple Crown winners, with Fiocchi shooting for Golden Triangle glory in the Talmoi Picnic Cup.
The four-year-old galloper is owned and raced by a hoard of Moree racing fans, including Golden Triangle history buff and local racing stalwart Bill Poulos.
Fiocchi kicked off his charge with a win in the Boolooroo Cup at Moree on May 27.
Ridden by Ricky Blewitt, the popular grey showed some guts to beat the Connie Greig-trained Cheeky Nugget.
Heading to Mallawa on June 10, there were some concerns he might not handle the dirt, but Fiocchi defied his doubters, and, with Blewitt again in the saddle, he brought up a thrilling win over the Andy Perrett-trained Thundozer.
It was an anxious wait for the photo finish, but the Moree galloper got the bob in, ensuring his crack at racing history when trekking to Talmoi on Saturday, June 24.
For Blewitt, he’ll also look to solidify his place in Golden Triangle history.
The Narromine-based hoop – regarded by many as one of the best in NSW – went agonizingly close in 2018, guiding the Sinclair-trained Track Flash to victories in the Boolooroo and Mallawa Cups, but his mount fell short in the Talmoi Cup, finishing third when going down by almost five lengths despite commencing the race as the well-supported $1.60 favourite.
The Geoff O’Brien-trained Rena’s Lad – runner-up to Track Flash in the Mallawa Cup and the subsequent Wean Cup – got in the way of history.
In 2022, Sinclair, Blewitt, and Fiocchi went close again, winning two of the three legs when emerging victorious in Moree’s Boolooroo Cup and the Talmoi Cup, the latter of which was held at Moree.
The trio get their chance again at Talmoi on Saturday, and it goes without saying that all eyes will be on Fiocchi as connections eye their place in history.
For more on the race day, click here.
For fields, click here.
For the NSW picnic calendar, click here.
