Cup win, 31-years apart

By Kyle Galley (Warragul Trots)

Myrniong trainer Jess Tubbs added her name to the honour roll of Warragul Cup winning trainers, alongside her late father Alan, after the win of A Gs White Socks in the $35,000 Downtowner Warragul Pacing Bowl Cup on Easter Sunday afternoon.

Alan Tubbs won the 1992 edition with Sharp Bret. Over three decades later, his daughters winning effort was at the end of a most entertaining edition of the Gippsland feature, despite the race again only drawing a small field of six horses to face the starter.

The Cup win was the second leg of a training double for Tubbs and a double for reinsman Bailey McDonough, the pair having won with First Dance earlier in the day.

In a tactical battle in the Warragul Cup, driver McDonough settled his charge at the rear of the field as several of his rivals challenged each other for the lead in the 2627 metre event.

With just over 1200 metres to travel, McDonough sent A Gs White Socks around the field with a fast mid race move to take the lead, and held off determined challenges from Supreme Dominator and local pacer Bulletproof Boy, the trio hitting the line locked together.

A Gs White Socks bought up career win 16 on Sunday at start 95, the nine-year-old becoming one of the oldest horses to win in the long history of the Warragul Cup.

“He’s obviously had a fair bit of ability and a few setbacks in his career, but he’s working back to his career best form and the race worked out perfectly today,” McDonough said after the event.

“Without a doubt it’s going to mean a lot to Jess, I’m just grateful to get the opportunity and to capitalise on it.”