Another Tumut Mile was added to the mantelpiece on Saturday, with Jindabyne trainer Georgie Boucher preparing sensational mare Gwennybegg for a gutsy victory in Tumut’s feature race.
In only the sixth edition of the Ray White Tumut Mile, Gwennybegg defended her 2022 and 2024 titles, with four-kilogram-claiming apprentice Sinead Peebles guiding the rising ten-year-old to a tough victory and her third win in the event.
After jumping nicely from gate three, Peebles sat behind the early leaders before presenting the Snowy Mountains-trained galloper for a strong finish and a thrilling victory.
Arriving just in time, Gwennybegg ($3.70) defeated the Becky Byrne-trained Dream Inherit (Glenn Cahill, $9.50) by a head, while in third and a half-length back was the Anthony Warren-trained Bounty By Knight (Coriah Keatings, $16).
It was an emotional win for Boucher, who is battling health issues after being diagnosed with breast cancer late last year.
“It means every win is a bit more special as I’ve just been diagnosed with breast cancer,” Boucher told NSW Country and Picnic Racing’s Jeff Hanson.
“I found out just before Cooma (in December), but we’re hitting it hard with chemo (chemotherapy), which I’ll have for 12 months, so it’s going to be a shitty year, and this just makes that start to my year a little better.”
Boucher will continue training, maintaining a positive mindset. With Gwennybegg winning three of her past four starts, there’s plenty of pep in her step.
“It’s not going to kill me, but it’s going to be a thing I’ve got to deal with; I just need to keep putting one foot in front of the other,” Boucher said.
“I’ve cut back on work a little bit, but I asked the oncologist if I can work my horses, and they say while I can, still do it, so I’m still training them.”
Gwennybegg, a $5000 purchase that has won 14 races, is enjoying a storied career with Boucher, and Saturday’s victory takes her earnings to over $150,000.
Despite being a nine-year-old, there appears to be more in store for the Shamus Award mare.
“I am proud of the cranky old cow,” Boucher laughed.
“She is getting crankier as she gets older, but we learn to ignore it; she just keeps running well.”
Gwennybegg started the $3.70 second favourite at Tumut and now boasts a record of six starts at the tight-turning track for five wins, but Boucher was never overly confident heading into the Tumut Mile.
“I never go anywhere confident because too much can go on, especially with ten horses on that track,” Boucher said.
“I thought Becky’s horse (Dream Inherit) was going to beat her, but she got there.”
Apprentices clean up at Tumut
Apprentice jockeys dominated the Ray White Tumut Mile meeting on Saturday, winning four of the six races on the Sky 2 program.
Sinead Peebles headlined the entertaining card of racing when winning the biggest race of her career, taking out the Tumut Mile (1600m) on the Georgie Boucher-trained Gwennybegg ($3.70).
Earlier on the program, Ella McGuirk was in the saddle with Witch Of November ($3.30), and the pair powered their way to a convincing win in the 1000m Maiden Plate for Wagga trainer Wayne Carroll.
In the very next race, Victorian apprentice Sarah McDonough teamed up with Wangaratta-based trainer Craig Weeding, winning the 1400m Class One Handicap on Oimbari ($3.50).
Albury-based apprentice Amy O’Driscoll also joined the winner’s list, helping Olivia Osborne to an impressive win on Pretty Penguin ($3.10) in the 1000m Benchmark 50 Handicap.
Of the fully fledged jockeys, Pierre Boudvillain kept up his sensational run of form, with the Goulburn-based hoop winning on Graced ($1.95) for Darrell Burnet in the 1400m Maiden Plate.
John Kissick also scored a good win, teaming up with Doug Gorrel, who trained Tycoon Artie ($5.50) to victory in the 1200m Benchmark 50 Handicap.
With their third meeting of the season in the books, Tumut race again on Saturday, February 8, when hosting their Tumut Cup TAB program.
