Sport
16 September, 2024
Morton notches first ever double at Cloncurry races
The young trainer had a big day out with two winners and two placings.
A strategic let-up in the paddock has paid dividends for the horses in the care of Mount Isa’s Emma Morton, who had her best day as a trainer on Saturday.
From four starters at Cloncurry, Morton had two winners and two placings.
“You always hope for a day like that but I wasn’t overly confident,” she told North West Weekly after securing her first double as a trainer.
“Three of them had a brief spell so we weren’t sure how they were going to go first-up from the break.”
Morton said the decision was made after the Mount Isa meeting on July 15.
“There wasn’t a lot coming up for them so we gave them a bit of time in the paddock and timed it so they’d be back for the Cloncurry meeting,” she said.
After placings with Philadelphia Free (third) and Welloutofreach (second) in races two and three, it looked like luck might have been against Morton at Schumacher Park.
However, that soon turned when talented sprinter Theresabearinthere produced a great front-running effort to narrowly win the Open Handicap (1200m) with Shane McGovern in the saddle.
Although just five runners went around in the Open, it produced great drama.
One horse missed the start and didn’t compete, while another stumbled and fell, leaving just three finishers.
Morton had to fend off a protest to hang onto the win, although the stewards didn’t take too long to dismiss the objection.
The winning double was completed in the Judy Keyes and John Bulley Memorial Benchmark 65 (1400m) when Remorseless produced an easy win, despite being first-up over seven furlongs. Ridden by Gregory Walters, the seven-year-old gelding notched his fourth career win and second for the year with a five-length margin.
Morton said she would now take aim at the upcoming Mount Isa Spring Cup meet.