Winlock On Target For Taree Cup Triumph

FATHER and son team, Michael and Richard Edwards, went into the heats of Wednesday's Taree Cup (537m) convinced local star She's Savage would beat their grand old campaigner Winlock On Top.

“We both thought he was short of a run not having done much in the past couple of weeks,” said Richard. “And, She's Savage is a really good bitch who has been in fantastic form.

“And, to top off that, he was drawn wide and everyone knows he's mad for the inside.”

Richard and Mick need not have worried.

Winlock On Top (Fernando Bale-Glitzy Bling) exploded from the lids and set up a winning break going around the first turn before holding off the late charge of I'm Explosive in 30.79.

The other heats of the Cup were won by Pan's Priority in 31.38 and Cundle Kate in 31.14.

“He went great,” said Richard.

The Edwards have had Winlock On Top in their kennel for the past three months having bought him from the Punters HQ syndicate and out of the Jodie and Andy Lord kennel.

Richard had been part of the syndicate that raced him to win the Group 1 Paws Of Thunder and be placed in or make five other feature races.

His 98 starts have resulted in 30 wins for $217,000.

– New Owner But Winlock Still On Top –

When the syndicate which owns Winlock On Top decided it was time to sell the dog to make room for new acquisitions owner-trainer Michael Edwards jumped at the chance to secure him.

Read More: https://t.co/8mudktbKTr#thedogs @GossyGreys pic.twitter.com/G9yXxvgs1c

— The Dogs (@Thedogs_com_au) February 10, 2022

“It's unfortunate,” said Richard. “We put him in for Gosford last week but there was no race on. It was our hope he could go into the Taree Cup final at his 100th race start.”

The Edwards have only recently purchased the dog.

“The opportunity came up for dad and I to buy him three months ago and, thanks to the syndicate and Jodie and Andy, we got him at a great price,” said Richard.

“They looked after us.

“I said to dad at the time he was a dog we could not miss out on.”

The Taree Cup winner will receive $10,000 and the box draw will not be done until the race meeting is graded.

“He's coming up to be a Masters dog in a month's time,” said Richard.

“He's a super dog with an unbelievable record off inside boxes.

“And, he will be much improved with that run today for next week's Cup final.”

But he wasn't always so foolproof.

“The first start he had for the syndicate, Andy labelled him a certainty at Dapto,” said Richard. “We were all on, but he turned in the boxes.

“Andy was quick to console us that he would recoup what we had lost. He was right.”

Richard is looking for a big weekend. He is part of the Punters HQ syndicate that owns Group 1 Golden Easter Egg favourite She's A Pearl.

“What a race it is going to be,” said Richard.