The Chopper Cup has gone to Texas.
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No, not the United States, but Queensland.
Hobby trainer Ron Morris left with the feature spoils after jockey Sophie Young’s daring ride aboard Shadow Show in Moree on Saturday.
The $11 shot dictated terms from the head of the pack and proved too strong late to seal the $6000 Pacific National Westpac Chopper Cup (1400m).
Shadow Show’s winning margin was two lengths from hometown hope Double Eagle (Vad Bolozhinskyi), who started the even-money favourite on the back of his last-start Bingara Cup win.
Monday’s Expert rounded out the trifecta.
A delighted Morris was full of praise for Young post-race.
“His best performances have been when’s he out in front,” Morris said.
“Sophie got him to the front from the outside barrier and he led them the whole way. She rode him perfectly.”
Despite finishing down the track at Bingara last start, Morris said he was confident about Shadow Show’s chances.
“He got knocked down at Bingara, was last at the home turn, but finished well,” he said.
“I was confident he’d win there, and still was confident he could run well at Moree.”
Morris, 68, prepares a team of two horses and has been training for five decades.
He always enjoys crossing the border to race in NSW.
“Even though I can’t draw a gate, it’s good racing down here, they look after you,” he said.
“You don’t pay nomination fees unlike Queensland and you get a couple of hundred even if your horse doesn’t place.
“That adds up for hobby trainers like me.”
Morris is eyeing a race at Armidale as the next task for Shadow Show.
Tamworth trainer Sue Grills had a big day, winning races in Sydney and Moree.
As Grills was conducting a television interview with Sky Racing at Rosehill following Fickle Folly’s TAB Highway Handicap success, Blinkin Fast (Darren Jones) saluted in a 950m Class 2 Handicap.
Blinkin Fast completed a winning double for Grills after Carmel broke her maiden status in the opener.
Shaft Of Magic and Dream In Colour were the other winners on the Chopper Cup Day undercard.