Sport
7 May, 2025
Cup, treble mark big day for Royes at Gregory
The Richmond trainer had a day to remember at the iconic bush meeting.
Jason Babarovich knew which horse would win the Burke Shire Cup at Gregory Downs, the only problem is that he wasn’t booked to ride it – or any other horse in the $15,000 feature race.
There were actually two issues for Babarovich – he and trainer Shryn Royes, who had Mr Metrics entered in the 1300m event – don’t exactly see eye to eye.
“I don’t usually ride for Shryn,” a diplomatic Babarovich said after he led all of the way in the Cup, kicking clear in the home straight to win by more than two lengths in track-record time, eclipsing the mark set by The Carpenter in last year’s main event.
“I thought he could win so I rang and asked her for the ride.
“Eventually, I was put on him and it all worked out. I was very confident because there was no (gate) speed in the race and he was always going to lead.”
Babarovich’s form proved to be spot on as he guided Mr Metrics ($3.50) into the Outback Racing Showcase Final at McKinlay next month, although the jockey said he was not guaranteed to be on board on June 21.
It was a big day for Royes and her team, who arrived in Gregory on Friday and didn’t leave until late on Sunday morning, having celebrated properly after winning three races, including the Cup, on the six-race program.
Newcomer Penny Packer ($2.40) was sizzling on debut for the Richmond trainer, picking up the Benchmark 50 (1000m) with ease for apprentice jockey Mitch Goring.
The 3kg claimer then produced another gem on the tight-turning track aboard Joy McCoy ($2.70) in the Kev Malone Memorial Benchmark 50 (1300m), coming from off the speed and then picking the right gap to blow his rivals away.
Denise Ballard enjoyed her first double in a long time, with a return to one of her favourite places in the North West proving fruitful for the Mount Isa trainer.
Mister Moderation ($16) liked the firmer track at Gregory to cause an upset in the Benchmark 60 Handicap (1150m) with Ty Wheeler in the saddle, while she closed out the day with Beyond Star ($5) saluting in the June Clarke Purse Benchmark 60 Handicap (1500m), again with Wheeler aboard.
Julia Creek trainer Tanya Parry prepared the other winner, starting the day with a quinella in the QTIS Maiden Plate (800m).
Newcomers Wholelottalove ($3) and Execute ($3.20) battled it out in the home straight, with apprentice Kayla Barker getting the job done on the well-backed favourite by about a nose.
Once trained by John O’Shea and Tom Charlton, the three-year-old Wholelottalove should be a progressive horse in the North West, having arrived in the region with just three prior starts.