Last Friday was International Women’s Day and the spirit of the event carried over to the Towong race meeting the next day when two female jockeys and a trainer made their mark while two sisters and their cousin celebrated a home-town victory in the Cup.
After finishing second last year, classy seven-year-old mare Euphemia made amends with a 3 1/2 length victory in a course record 1.34.9 in the 100th running of the club’s feature event.
Trained by Gerald Egan and courtesy of a heady ride by Lachie King, she sat behind a blistering pace in fourth place before peeling out in the straight to career away from Banger and Oceans Of Stanima for a momentous win.
Starting at $3, Euphemia returned to tumultuous scenes in the mounting yard with owners Dixie Coutts and sister Wendy Heal and their cousin Louise Robinson, along with ‘the blokes’ Gavan Coutts and John Heal, greeting their Cup winner. Adding to the occasion was that Euphemia was bred by Wendy and John.
Dixie and Wendy are the daughters of Towong Turf Club stalwart TJ Waters, making it a special victory for the family.
Louise is the daughter of TJ’s sister Joyce, who married Don McMillan. His horse, Just Care, won the Towong Cup in 1959, trained by Ron Waters.
Ron and local solicitor Ray Braham owned Timor Light, which won the Cup in 1968 and 1969 (trained by Ron).
TJ had the Mac Blair trained French Diamond in the Cup in 1980 but she ran second.
In 2021 Dixie and Wendy’s cousin Rodger Waters trained the Cup winner Sizzleonthebridge.
Euphemia’s victory this year has added to the rich history of the Waters’ family association with the prestigious event.
Dixie Coutts was especially proud of the win as she is also on the committee of the Towong Turf Club as well as the club’s historian.
It was also a red-letter day for French jockey Mickaelle Michel who won the first race on Vanbrugh Castle for trainer Brent Stanley.
It was a case of going from Flemington to the ‘Flemington of the Bush’ as the international hoop was down to ride in the Newmarket Handicap at HQ on Saturday but her mount failed to gain a start.
Michel (28) has raced in 13 countries and ridden winners in eight of those including an $81 victor at Flemington in January, a week after arriving in the country.
Cup winning jockey, Lachie King, started the day in fine form when saluting on $2.25 favourite Pretty Penguin in the second event, putting a smile on the face of fledgling Benalla-based trainer Olivia Osborn.
Capping off ‘ladies day’ was the win of Brittany Button on Chairman’s Choice in the last race, the apprentice’s first day in the saddle!
This article appeared in the Corryong Courier, 14 March 2024.
