By MATT NICHOLLS
LEGENDARY bush jockey Robert Thompson’s rare foray into Armidale paid off as he produced a signature ride to win Sunday’s $25,000 Guyra Cup (1400m).
Aboard Taree galloper Single Spirit, Thompson held his nerve around the tight, undulating Armidale track before waiting for a split in the final 250m to surge to the lead on the $3.20 favourite.
Once Single Spirit saw daylight, he never looked like losing.
“He’s got a really big stride on him,” trainer Ross Stitt said.
“He’s still got some growing to do. He can only improve.”
A tilt at the Armidale Cup (1900m) appears to be off the cards for Single Spirit.
Stitt said he would go to Brisbane next start before taking aim at the $80,000 Tamworth Cup.
Sunday’s victory inched Thompson a win closer to his 4000th in a long-spanning and record breaking career.
Single Spirit took the jockey to 3977.
“It’s been a while since I’ve been in Armidale, but the track has never looked better,” Thompson.
Meanwhile, veteran gelding Kwilas Law booked an Armidale Cup berth with a win in the Armidale Cup Prelude (1900m).
Trained by Scone’s Luke Griffith, the nine-year-old brought up win number 12 from 107 starts – a career that includes 38 placings.
Ridden a treat by Matthew McGueren from a wide barrier, Kwilas Law put his nose in front right on the line to defeat Guyra-trained galloper Dusty’s Felt in a thrilling finish.
Connections of the Paul Grills-trained runner-up had their hearts in their mouths for the last 300m as Dusty’s Felt led the field up the home straight, only to be nabbed in the last stride.
It’s likely he’ll press forward to the Armidale Cup on 17 March.
