Butcher Hoping Last Minute Cup Tilt Pays Off

SENSATIONAL race bitch Coorong Lucy is hot favourite for the Murray Bridge Cup (455m), the heats of which will be run on Friday, but owner-trainer Cameron Butcher was in two minds about even running her in the series.

The daughter of Worm Burner and Molly Be Nimble has won 21 of her 29 race starts and in January won the Murray Bridge Oaks in emphatic fashion.

But Butcher had been keen to keep Coorong Lucy at Angle Park where she recently won the St Leger in remarkable style, the fifth victory in that race for the Butcher kennel.

CLICK HERE FOR FRIDAY'S MURRAY BRIDGE CUP HEATS

“But she has not been able to get a race at Angle Park, so Cameron decided at the last minute to put her into the heats of the Murray Bridge Cup,” said his wife Yvonne.

And, Coorong Lucy has come up with box one and is a raging hot $1.25 favourite with bookmaker Sportsbetting.com.au.

CLICK HERE TO BET WITH SPORTSBETTING.COM.AU

The St Leger victory by Coorong Lucy was an amazing performance, the bitch overcoming interference several times in running to win easily.

“Cameron said it was not that obvious on the replay but watching it from behind at the boxes he could see Coorong Lucy had to jump over the back of another runner,” said Yvonne.

Coorong Lucy was one of the last pups left in her litter.

“Normally, Cameron likes to take his pick from a litter first, but with the Worm Burner-Molly Be Nimble litter, he let everyone have their choice,” said Yvonne.

“He loves dogs with a dark muzzle and he was hoping no one would pick the bitch with the dark muzzle.

“They didn't and she has turned out to be Coorong Lucy.”

The Butchers have been busy with two of their star bitches whelping litters in recent weeks.

She's A Looper produced three dogs and five bitches to their former great galloper On Fire.

On Fire's litter sister Purpose Driven whelped five dogs and six bitches to her mating to Aston Dee Bee.