Image: Murrumbidgee Turf Club.
It was a timely win for the Todd Smart-trained Love Shuck (Billy Owen, $5.50) at Wagga on Sunday.
The 5YO Mikki Isle gelding won the Wagga Town Plate Preview (1200m) while guaranteeing his place in next week’s $200,000 Wagga Town Plate – the featured race on day one of the 2026 Wagga Gold Cup carnival.
A $6,000 purchase at the 2022 Inglis HTBA sale, Love Shuck, coincidentally won on the same day as the 2026 HTBA Sale, which was happening at the Inglis Riverside Complex.
Smart was pleased to see their bargain buy take his earnings to over $300,000, with the Canberra galloper now boasting a record of 25 starts for seven wins and three minor placings.
“He’s been a good horse for us, as he was only a $6,000 purchase and he’s now won over $300,000,” Smart told Country Punter.
“We bought another $18,000 purchase yesterday (Lot 30: Acrobat x Subsuzie), and that’s what we do; we try and buy these cheaper horses and head toward the races, and we’ve had some luck doing it.”
Smart’s victory with Love Shuck didn’t arrive without some drama, with fellow Canberra trainer Gratz Vella lodging a protest with stewards after his galloper Teylu (Pierre Boudvillain, $3.20) ran second, beaten 0.09 of a length.
It was a close finish, with the Donna Scott-trained Arthur The Great (Blaike McDougall, $7.50) only 0.25 of a length away in third, but after some deliberation, Racing NSW stewards dismissed the protest, with Love Shuck remaining the winner.
“He’s been going good, and deserved that win,” Smart said.
“He ran second to My Last Hooray at Canberra, and after that run, we thought we would freshen him up and go to this race, with the plan to go back to the Wagga Town Plate.
“He trialled at Goulburn and went well, and I know he will have improvement out of this run; he got a bit tired late, which is probably why he was rolling in, but he’s now spot on for the Wagga Town Plate.”
Love Shuck ran third in the 2025 Wagga Town Plate prelude before running a gallant sixth to eventual winner Compelling Truth in the 2025 edition of the $200,000 feature sprint.
Smart believes that with another year of experience under his belt and a better draw, Love Shuck can make a strong claim next Thursday.
“Last year, we ran sixth in it, but we drew the outside gate, and if he drew a (better) gate, he would have been top three,” Smart said.
“The horse is going as well as we can have him, and if he draws well in two weeks’ time, he’s every chance.”
On a big day of preludes at Wagga, the Mitchell Beer and George Carpenter-trained Cosmic Lad (Grant Buckley, $8.50) won his way into the $200,000 Wagga Gold Cup (2000m) after landing a thrilling victory in the Murrumbidgee Cup (1800m).
The Nick Olive-trained Hip Hip Ole (Coriah Keatings, $6.50) won another head-bobber in the Guineas Prelude (1400m), guaranteeing the 3YO Ole Kirk filly a start in next Friday’s $80,000 MTC Guineas (1600m).
Wodonga trainer David O’Prey will have Rosie’s Prophecy in next Friday’s $75,000 Queen Of The South (1400m), after Brendan Ward guided the 5YO Akeed Mofeed mare to a strong win in the 1300m prelude.
