It’s a NSW quinella as Trotters Cup heads south this winter

IT was Queensland’s night but the New South Wales took the honours when they finished one-two in tonight’s $100,000 Queensland Trotters Cup.

Majestic Trio, part-owner by Canberra rugby league star Jarrod Croker, looked destined for better things after the Brad Hewitt-trained and driven square-gaiter wore down Doff Your Cap (Cameron Hart) to win the first of the night’s big Group 1s.

The locals weren’t left out in the cold though with Sugarinspice (Pete McMullen) finishing third for Chantal Turpin.

Most on track expected the Jack Butler-trained and Nathan Dawson-driven Adelle ($2.30 favourite) to be the one to beat in the 2138m Cup but after working hard to find the front, Adelle dropped out in the run home and finished a well- beaten eighth.

Doff Your Cap loomed up on the home turn and hit the front but Hewitt found some room in the straight and came off the pegs to finish fast and score a well-deserved win.

Another of the Group 1 features, the $150,000 Queensland Oaks also saw the Queenslanders cheering when Torque Like Motion (Shane Graham) zoomed up the passing lane to score an exciting win over Cheer Leader (Grant Dixon) and Peaceful (Jack Callaghan).

“Winning a race like this is pretty special – even more so when you aren’t expected to win,” said Graham after the $41 shot prevailed by 4.6m.

“There was a bit of luck involved there, for sure. But you still have to be good enough to take advantage of that and get the job done.

“My Dad Wayne, who trains Torque Like Motion has put a lot of time and effort into training this filly.

“In fact, he’s probably spoiled her a little bit too much.

“Tonight was probably the best run she has put in.

“Her mother Torque In Motion was good to me too and every foal she has produced has gone on and won races – you can’t ask for much more than that.

“We went to four back on the fence and I admit I wasn’t sure how we were going to get into the finish, at that stage.

“But there was plenty of speed on up front and when we did get into the clear she was able to get the job done.

“It was even more special having the family there to cheer me home.”

Disappointment of the race was the $2.40 favourite Jewel Melody who looked beaten before the home turn and dropped out to finish seventh for trainer-driver Bernie Hewitt.