Outsider bags Winter Cup at Waterlea

A birthday wish has come true for Wayne Frampton. The Christchurch owner got a present to remember when $40 shot Lilac Desire came storming up the passing lane to win the Peter Yealands Wines Winter Cup at Waterlea on Sunday. The cup was the feature race on the second leg of the Marlborough Harness Racing Club's two day meeting.

Frampton, the proprietor of New World Northwood, bought into the mare bred and owned by his old primary school mate Andrew Grant who bred Lilac Desire out of his three win mare Lilac Franco.

Victory was a major turnaround for the Dean Taylor-trained mare who blew the start and finished back in tenth place in the Peter Yealands Wines Winter Cup Prelude on Friday.

Taylor, watching from home in Ladbrooks on the outskirts of Christchurch, thought his mare was travelling nicely on the bend and was hopeful of running fourth or fifth but when Blair Orange found a gap on the markers the mare by Real Desire moved into overdrive to power past the pack for an upset win.

Sunday's win was not the first time Lilac Desire has exceeded Taylor's expectations.

"As a young horse we thought she might win one race but she has got stronger as she gets older and she always tries her heart out," Taylor said.

He said the sit Orange was able to give Lilac Desire three back on the marker pegs was the key to victory. "Whenever she gets the right run she can always give a bit of cheek."

Lilac Desire paced the 3200m in 4.09.0 with a mile rate of 2.05.2 and closing sectionals of 56.0 and 29.5.

Graduate Under Fire was brave in defeat after being aided from a perfect trip in the trail behind most of the way leader and stablemate Return To Sender.

Naughty Maravu's trainer and driver Gavin Smith tried everything but could not find clear air as a wall of horses charge towards the post. Friday's Prelude winner was a good thing beaten after not being able to find a run.

Sunday's cup favorite Destined For Glory faded in the final stages to finish back in ninth spot, directly behind All Delight.

Smith may be frustrated by Sunday's result but in Naughty Maravu he knows he has a promising pacer. The Badlands Hanover was an upset winner of the Prelude on Friday at a $13 quote. He beat home All Delight by a nose with favorite Return To Sender holding on for third.

Robert Dunn's stable enjoyed a successful weekend with four winners. Two were provided by Mach Denario who upset favorite Expressive Victor on Sunday to win the Crafar Crouch Construction pace on Sunday and give his connections a double after the Mach Three four-year-old won the Gill Construction mobile over 2300m on Friday

Orange and John Dunn both drove winning doubles on Sunday.

Favorite punters struck a tough day on Friday with Go Fella Go the only favorite home. Izinthezone set the tone for a day of rough results when he won the first on Friday, paying $50 for the win.

The Marlborough club were very happy with the two days of racing, according to secretary Barry Forbes. "We have been lucky with the weather," he said, "plus there has been some good fields and good racing."

On-course turnover was up on both days with off-course betting up on Friday and down on Sunday.  

The Mike Turner Trophy for leading junior driver throughout the 2014-15 season went to Purvis.

Mat Kermeen and Peter Jones

Courtesy of The Marlborough Express