A superb ride by veteran jockey Bradley Vale steered consistent Bendigo galloper Alternate to victory in the Berrigan Gold Cup on Saturday.

The Stacey Kirkpatrick trained seven-year-old scored by a length from gallant second favourite Fox Appeal, just ahead of stablemate Grey Lad.

The placegetters are both trained by Craig Weeding at Wangaratta.

The pre-post favourite Eammon’s Memory, chasing yet another Southern Riverina cup victory and successive Berrigan Cups, battled hard under a big weight to finish just behind the placegetters.

It was the eighth career win for Alternate, who made amends after being narrowly beaten by Eammon’s Memory in the recent Deniliquin Gold Cup.

He was at the surprisingly good odds of $6 considering his recent form, especially the Deniliquin second place.

Alternate’s trainer and jockey combination continued on their winning ways in the final event on the Berrigan program, at 1600m Maiden, when even money favourite Gold Gladiator scored by nearly three lengths from Ardesha, with Kalshia in third place.

Gold Gladiator put the writing on the wall with a strong fourth at the recent Deniliquin meeting when resuming from a spell, and broke through for his first win when stepping up in distance.

The opening event on Saturday’s program was an 1100m Maiden, taken out by Kilmore trained I Am Vengeance at the five-year-old gelding’s 11th race start.

The well bred son of I Am Invincible was first up from a spell after a disappointing end to his previous campaign early in the year.

With Hannah Edgley aboard for trainer Jody Thompson, he easily accounted for the $3.40 favourite La Shadow, with Wangaratta mare Typhoon Romance in third place.

The second race was an 1100m Benchmark 50 Handicap taken out by the John Fitzgerald trained six-year-old Time Angel, with young apprentice Alice Kennedy in the saddle.

The consistent son of O’lohnro has been in a purple patch of form, having won his previous start at Wodonga after placings at Wagga and Griffith.

It was a courageous effort for the $3.80 second favourite, who held on to defeat Bokeem, with the $3 favourite Cilento, from the Craig Weeding stable, finishing third after having every chance.

In race three, a Class 2 Handicap over 1200m, two Wangaratta gallopers in Group Chat and Dubai Fountain were clear top picks in the market, with the former a solid $1.80 favorite after winning a Wodonga trial early in the month.

However, Dubai Fountain, a four-year-old mare ridden by Josh Richards for Andrew Dale proved the superior, with a clear three lengths victory.

Nineveh, from the Grant White stable at Benalla, was a further half a length away in third place.

Race four was a 1400m Maiden which again had two clearcut favourites in Jingu Express and Under The Hat.

And again it was the second favourite that took the major prize.

Under The Hat was given a ‘peach’ ride by apprentice Brittany Button, who settled towards the tail of the field while Jingu Express and Smart Asset battled it out up front.

Button took a short cut on the corner, and when she got clear running in the straight Under The Hat knuckled down and broke clear late to win by two lengths.

Jingu Express took second place in a photo from Smart Asset, which also battled on well.

It was the seventh career victory for Under The Hat, a six-year-old mare trained by Gerald Egan at Mansfield.

On another great day of competitive racing in the Southern Riverina, the six winners all came from regional Victoria.

Stacey Kirkpatrick and Bradley Valey took the trainer and jockey honours respectively with their race-to-race double at the end of the day.

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Wednesday, 11th August 2027

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