Madigan’s tough win in Echuca Cup

Six year old gelding Madigan (Sweet Lou) showed a welcome return to form with a tough staying performance to hold out his rivals in the Moama Bowling Echuca Pacing Cup on Thursday evening.

Heavily backed into second favourite Madigan was on the outside of the second row with favourite Triple Rock Saint also on the second row.

Noted frontrunner Bulldog Khan found the lead but no sooner had the field settled down Michael Bellman let Triple Rock Saint go around the field to test for the lead but he couldn’t get around Bulldog Khan. Meanwhile Madigan settled down at the rear of the field.

The leaders set a very slow pace in front and the first quarter for the last mile was run in a lethargic 33.6 seconds. Leigh Sutton on Madigan realised that he would need to make a run in order not to be left behind when the pace picked up and he took off three coming into the home straight for the bell.

However he was stuck out on a limb when both Triple Rock Saint and Bulldog Khan held their ground and the three were locked together going into the back straight. Madigan was entitled to get tired but he kept going on and in a grinding finish held on to beat Auckland Red who had been locked away behind the leader just ahead of Triple Rock Saint.

MADIGAN JAN1 REPLAY

Madigan’s mile rate of 2.2 for the 2560 metre trip was well outside the track record of 1.57 set by Malcolms Rhythm in 2021.

Madigan has been a difficult horse to follow. Early in his career he looked to have unlimited potential when he five races on end as a three year old. He hadn’t won a race since scoring at Menangle in October 2024 and recently he’d been thereabouts without looking likely to threaten.

But there’s no doubt on his night Madigan is a capable pacer and his win in the Echuca Cup was fully deserved. Trained by Tim Mannix Madigan is raced by John Mannix.

Madigan is out of the Bettors Delight mare Our Chelsea Girl who after winning eight races at Mildura and Nyah has proved to be a gem of a broodmare. Her first foal was Cheyenne Autumn (nine races) and then the very speedy filly Valkyrie (six races and 1.55.1). Madigan was her next progeny and then the very capable Captain Moore (12 wins and 1.50.6). Enola is the last of the progeny and she’s already won two races.

The hard luck run of the race was Clymenus who was locked away three back on the rails and didn’t obtain clear room until well down the home straight when the race was all over to eventually finish sixth.

Later in the evening, El Conqueror (Sebastian K) won the other feature of the night with an effortless all the way win in the Echuca Steel Sheds Trotters Cup.

Beginning brilliantly from barrier four in a small field of six El Conqueror was cleverly rated in the lead by Tristan Larsen. Those who backed the gelding into favouritism never had any cause for concern as he strode clear along the back straight and scored an easy win over Maximez and Watch And Act.

EL CONQUEROR JAN 1 REPLAY

El Conqueror has been a model of consistency for trainer Brent Lilley since arriving from New Zealand in late September. He won the Swan Hill Trotters Cup and then was runner up in the Horsham, Gunbower and Cobram Cups so his recent success was well deserved.

It proved to be a highly successful night for the Echuca Harness Racing Club as a huge holiday crowd was in attendance to enjoy the eight event programme. The success of the meeting was a tribute to the club which worked hard to attract patrons to the meeting.

For complete race results, click here.

by Tony Milanese, for Harnesslink