Ridge Wilson claimed back-to-back Warialda Cups on Saturday
Racing the well-named Lesgo Don, Angel Brennan was in the saddle and went to the front on the 5YO Invader gelding, making every post a winner as the pair cruised to a comfortable 1.66-length victory.
“It was a great ride,” Wilson told Country Punter.
“He had to come out of a sticky gate, and he does go forward, but she drove him out, got him across and backed off, and there was enough petrol in the tank for him to finish off.”
Wilson won the race in 2025 as Puzzle Designer was ridden to victory by Jack Baker, while stablemate Jakat finished third, and the Inverell trainer was pleased to land another Country Cup win.
“They are not big races, but it’s a thrill to get a win wherever it may be that you place a horse,” Wilson said.
“Winning at the non-TABs is better than getting beaten at the TABs, and it was good to see that horse win the Warialda Cup.”
Saturday’s win follows a good month for Wilson, where Geraty won races at Gunnedah and Narrabri, including the time-honoured Narrabri Cup on March 21.
“Geraty has been one of the unluckiest horses in the stable, with bad luck upon bad luck,” Wilson said.
“Kody (Nestor) got the breakthrough win on her, and that got her confidence up, and she went on to win the Narrabri Cup.
“We probably went one too many going to Lightning Ridge with her, and she is now spelling.”
Wilson, a former picnic jockey, is putting together a nice record as a trainer, having prepared 41 winners at a 13% win rate, while he is working with the likes of Rod Peacock and Shelley Hancox of Hancox Bloodstock.
In fact, he played a part in the journey of the Chris and Corey Munce-trained Brave Monarch, a former pre-trainer for the Inverell stable, which has since won three from five and is one of the favourites in tomorrow’s Listed Daybreak Lover (1400m) at Eagle Farm.
“I’ve got 12 in work, and a couple of pre-trainers included,” Wilson said.
“We’re chipping away and getting good results, and we had a horse here in the early days that will race in the Daybreak Lover tomorrow, called Brave Monarch, which is really exciting.”
“We’re chipping away and getting good results, and we had a horse here in the early days that will race in the Daybreak Lover tomorrow, called Brave Monarch, which is really exciting.”
