A veteran of 87 starts, Georgie Boucher’s fairytale run with Gwennybegg continued at the Sapphire Coast on Monday.
The 10-year-old Shamus Award mare had Caitlin Sinclair in the saddle as she scored the 17th win of her illustrious career, triumphing in the 1600m Country Boosted Benchmark 58 Handicap.
Boucher, who was on the road back to Jindabyne at the time, enjoyed the result but not in person.
“It was great, but I wasn’t there as my daughter just graduated from her Sports Science course on the Gold Coast, so I went up on Wednesday and came back Monday, but had only landed and was driving back,” Boucher said.
“I had the radio on, and I pulled over and put the TAB on so I could watch it, but the screen froze, so I was madly trying to find the audio on the radio.”
A $5000 purchase, Gwennybegg has been an absolute star for the Jindabyne trainer, earning connections nearly $190,000 in prizemoney while mixing her wins throughout NSW and Victoria.
Her full TAB wins have been few and far between, with Gwennybegg enjoying most of her success at picnic and non-TAB meetings, but on Monday, conditions suited and she was too good for her rivals.
“The draw was always good, and as I said to Caitlin, just jump out and try and lead, but if someone wants to dead-set lead, don’t fight them,” Boucher said.
“She is a horse that can lead or take a sit, and Caitlin rode her exactly right, and when that gap opened, and she pinned her cranky ears back, I knew she was going to win.”
Boucher, who conditions her horses at the highest altitude of any trainer in Australia, has been undergoing treatment for breast cancer since late 2024.
Officially finishing her treatment on Wednesday, it was a timely result for Boucher and connections, who will turn their attention to Sunday’s Tambo Valley Cup (1650m) at the Swifts Creek picnic meeting, where Gwennybegg will carry the top weight of 72kg.
That will then make the rising 11-year-old eligible for a tilt at the $25,000 Victorian Picnic Grand Final (1600m) at Pakenham on May 1.
“She’s been such a good horse, and we were going to retire her, but she is racing well, and no one has told her how old she is,” Boucher laughed.
“She might not be running as well as she was when she was at her best, but with the right racing, she is still running well enough, and she showed that.
“Unfortunately, she has to carry 72kg on Sunday, but that is going to be her fourth start at the picnics (in Victoria), and she will have a chance to get into the final on May 1.
“That will then be it for her after that; all my horses go out for the winter, but I will bring her back next season, and yeah, she’ll be 11, but if she is not going backwards and wants to race, she will.”
Boucher will have three runners at Swifts Creek on Sunday, with Gwennybegg to be joined by Daulton in the 1200m 0-28 and Culpable in the 1000m Class 3 Trophy Race, all of whom will be ridden by Dani Walker.
