Rico Roars Into Rich Warragul Cup Decider

THE past few weeks have been busy to say the least for Victorian trainer Luckie Karabitsakos.

He and his family spent Christmas moving into a newly built home.

Their champion broodbitch, Bella Rico (Stagger-My Path Princess) produced her final litter, a repeat mating of that which produced Luckie's G1 Melbourne Cup winner Hard Style Rico.

Luckie landed his first winner as a trainer of Hard Style Rico pups when Drop Pin won at Traralgon on Saturday.

And, High Tribe Rico overcame a webbing problem to make this coming week's Group 2 Warragul Cup final.

“We got the time to have a BBQ over Christmas, but only one,” joked Luckie.

Bella Rico whelped one dog and three bitches in a repeat mating to Bella Infrared.

Her great son Hard Style Rico, by Bella Infrared, started 40 times for 21 wins and seven placings earning $627,000 winning the Melbourne Cup and running a Sandown track record.

“It is her last litter and none of them will be for sale,” said Luckie.

“She's looking after us giving us three bitches in the litter to breed on with.

Here is the box draw for next Friday night's Group 2 #WarragulCup Final ??

1️⃣ LANDYN BALE
2️⃣ TITAN BLAZER
3️⃣ MOBILE LEGEND
4️⃣ DYNAMIC PRINCE
5️⃣ PANADERO WARRIOR
6️⃣ MONEY OWES
7️⃣ HIGH TRIBE RICO
8️⃣ MATT'S HOPE

Reserves
9️⃣ QUINLAN BALE
? ASTON LIRA

The winner will be … pic.twitter.com/Xs033RPSoh

— WatchDog Racing (@WatchDogRacing) January 6, 2023

“She had one dog and three bitches in her previous litter, to Kinloch Brae, as well.”

Luckie landed Drop Pin (Hard Style Rico-Ryall) a 25.10 winner in a 450m Maiden at Traralgon on Saturday night leading throughout.

“He went super,” he said. “He's got a lot of ability.

“I'm already fending off offers to buy him.

HARD STYLE RICO AT STUD

“The Rico pups are just starting to hit the tracks, but I'm aware of some very promising youngsters and I'm told John Dart on the Northern Rivers has a Rico pup that has broken in super.”

High Tribe Rico (Fernando Bale-Bella Rico) overcame webbing woes when making the Group 2 Warragul Cup final this Friday night.

“He was in the Christmas Cup final three weeks ago but I had to scratch after he hurt his webbing,” said Luckie.

“I've worked on it and worked on it, taking him to the beach as often as possible, but he went into the Cup heats last Friday night a little underdone.

“I will keep taking him to the beach to keep the webbing right for the final.

“He's drawn to suit out in the seven for the final.”