Racing: Titch finds no hurdles on way to victory

Titch, expertly ridden by Opie Bosson, proved he was the best stayer by winning the Auckland Cup at Ellerslie. Photo / Natalie Slade

Titch broke a few records winning yesterday's $1 million Stella Artois Auckland Cup.

It must be the first time the Cup winner has crossed the line without the owners or the trainer being on course.

And when was the last time the Auckland Cup was won by a hurdler?

Neither factor mattered as Titch and Opie Bosson put the favourite, Showcause, in the shade with a dominant victory.

It didn't mean the celebrations were not substantial.

In Masterton, 90-year-old owner Jim Wallace was tippling his way to perceived victory long before the race started.

Grandson Michael Wallace, on course with uncle Les Wallace, when asked for his grandfather's phone number straight after the win said: "You'd better ring Jim and Margaret pretty soon because the gin bottle and the champagne bottles will be going down pretty quickly."

In declaring the victory right up there with Cent Home's win in the Kelt Capital Stakes, Jim Wallace was a little shy about the gin bottle but his wife gave him up.

"Yes, the drinking is going on."

Son, Jim jnr was the information provider.

"We started the champagne 1 hours before the race. I think we're on bottle No 7 at the moment."

The noise in the lounge, he said, was deafening once the horses were in the home straight.

"He's not a bad hurdler, is he?"

Last winter during a Melbourne campaign, Titch won two hurdle races at Sandown and one at Moe.

Back home, he finished second, beaten a long head, to Showcause in the 3200m New Zealand Cup at Riccarton and subsequently won the Gold Nuggets at Kumara.

Titch got his revenge yesterday beating Showcause by 1 lengths.

The closest person on-course to the stable of winning trainer Kevin "Dummy" Myers was employee Rochelle Lockett.

"Kevin is at home on the lounger," said Lockett.

"He's done such a marvellous job with this horse. We all ride this bloke in a bit of work at times, but Kevin's partner Angela does most of the work. She deserves a lot of credit."

Titch himself, says Lockett, is a real gentleman. "It would be great if there were a few more like him."

Rider Opie Bosson could not have done a better job.

He admitted it all unfolded for him and his contribution was absolutely minimal, but said he didn't think he would pass back his $30,000 percentage cheque.

Myers also had Capecover in the Cup and at the weekend Bosson did not know which one he was on.

When Titch finished second to Solid Billing on Saturday, Bosson said to his agent Ross Fisher: "Ring Dummy and get me on Titch. But you never know with Dummy. I didn't really know which one I was on."

Bosson put Titch straight into the trail. "Solid Billing set up a good pace for us and coming up to the turn I moved him up, but that horse outside the leader [Payback] was still going well so I moved him out to the middle of the track."

Bosson last won the Auckland Cup on Jezabeel in 1989 and said he was more confident this time that in any of the Auckland Cups since.

The talented jockey agrees with Jim Wallace jnr.

"Yes, he goes well for a hurdler."