Racing: Pegus to put celebrations on hold for Perth Cup

MELBOURNE - Jockey Mark Pegus will forgo New Year's Eve celebrations as part of a wasting programme to ride Adelaide galloper Right Fong in the Perth Cup the following day.

Pegus, who is 55kg, said he was committed to the in-form 6-year-old and would ride him at 52kg in the Cup after he won his final lead-up at Flemington on Saturday.

"It is going to be a tough job but we will get it [the weight] down," he said.

"You would only do it if he was a chance and there will be no celebrations on New Year's Eve, let's put it that way."

Pegus' last wasting effort was last autumn when he rode Time Thief at 51.5kg in the Newmarket Handicap.

He has ridden Right Fong at his past three starts and was on him when he landed the Listed Johnnie Walker Stakes (1800m) at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day.

Pegus has never ridden in Perth but believes Right Fong's win on Saturday was a perfect Perth Cup (2400m) trial.

"The best thing about him is that he will run the trip whereas some of the others over there probably won't."

Well supported as the $3.80 favourite in Saturday's Western Health Cup (2000m), Right Fong made his winning run from the back half of the field.

He scored by a short neck, denying Playwright ($9.50) his first victory in 22 months, while Diamondsondinside ($9) was 2 lengths away third.

"It was a pretty soft win," Pegus said. "I really didn't ask him until the last 50 yards to finish off."

Trainer David Balfour said Right Fong would be flown to Perth on Tuesday and would not race again until the Perth Cup.

"We will give him time to settle in over there and pour plenty of work into him so he will be very fit by the time of the cup," Balfour said.

Meanwhile, Tears I Cry has finally rewarded his connections with an overdue win at Flemington.

The gelding had struggled since winning the 2007 Emirates Stakes at $101 and David Bourke, who is based at Geelong, is the last in a succession of trainers to try to get the horse to fire.

Ciaron Maher won the Emirates with him while owner Anne McGrath trained him before and after Quinton Scott had a crack at him.

Bourke took over as the trainer two months ago and Saturday's Zouki Hcp (1400m) was his third run for the stable.

Trainer David Bourke missed Saturday's win but his brother Justin said: "We had him too fresh last time and he got charging on the rider but he was spot-on today."

His next start will be the Christmas Handicap (1400m) at Morphettville on Boxing Day.

- AAP