Weffalee Shield Creates Wauchope Cup History

IT was 2am before Tony Forbes made it to bed, but not until he had watched the replay 20 times.

"The replay" is of Tony's grand sprinter Weffalee Shield (Sennachie-Tweety) which made history of his own when on Wednesday night he won his third consecutive Wauchope Cup.

This year's running, over 525m at Taree, followed his two wins in the race at the Wauchope track.

Weffalee Shield swept to the front in the back straight and then held off a determined Party Mode to win by a length and a quarter in the fast time of 30.35 with Bandit Chloe in third.

"By the time I got home (to Quorrobolong near Cessnock), did the dogs, it was 2am before I could get to bed," said Tony.

"But, I had to watch the replay … 20 times."

Tony said today there would be no thought of attempting a fourth Wauchope Cup.

"I'm not even going to think about it," he said.

"At the moment, the plan is to take on a few Masters races around Maitland and The Gardens."

Tony was still smarting today a painful hand the legacy of it being shaken so often after the victory.

"And I will need a nap this afternoon," he said.

Weffalee Shield followed Tony's race plan to the letter.

"I reckoned the five (She's A Bumpy) is desperate to get to the fence and I thought she might cause a bit of a problem inside her and then given him a bit of a hole to get through early," he said.

"That's exactly how it turned out.

"He has great second section pace and when he raced to Party Mode in the back straight and got to the front, I knew he would win.

"That's a really good dog, Party Mode, so for him to beat him is really something.

"But it was easily one of my dog's best wins. He was so dominant."

Tony was quick to point out that his grand campaigner, winner now of 31 races and $126,000, was easily the oldest dog in the race, older than some by a year and others by two.

"It's an unreal feeling," said Tony of the victory.

"He's won three major races at Taree."

"Easy pickings" in Masters racing are his only target from now.

"I'll just poke along with him, play it by ear what we do with him," said Tony.

Weffalee Shield's pedigree is a tribute to the Wheeler family bloodlines, with his pedigree carrying Fernando Bale, Barcia Bale and Bekim Bale 2x2x3.

PETER Akers' Physicality (Aston Rupee-Agnetha) led virtually throughout to win the time-honoured Butch Monkley Maiden final (300m).

He ran 17.22 to down Cash The Lot by two and a half lengths with favourite Offenbach in third.