Armed And Ready For Carnarvon Cup.
Veteran trainer Peter Daly was walking with a spring in his step following the win of Armed And Ready in Saturday’s Elders Junction Cup (1900m).
Daly was understandably excited about the seven-year-old securing automatic entry into the Carnarvon Cup, but he also took great delight for the gelding’s group of owners.
It might not have been the Melbourne Cup, Perth Cup, or any other pinnacle race in Australia, but for most in Armed And Ready’s ownership group it hardly mattered.
As far as they were concerned, Armed And Ready, purchased for $6000, was being hailed their champion after coming from the clouds to win the Junction Cup.
“They were kings for the day,” Daly told The Races WA.
“A lot of them have never been involved in horses before.
“One said to me he had been to the races, but never thought he would become an owner.
“He said I’ve never had a thrill like it. He couldn’t talk and was tingling.
“It doesn’t matter if it’s the Melbourne Cup or the Mingenew Cup, for many of them in the area it’s their pinnacle cup.
“Everyone was over the moon and beside themselves and it was pretty well received.
“They were kings for the day and that’s what it was all about.”
Armed And Ready was royalty after the win, but at one stage he could easily have been a pauper after getting well back and looking an forlorn task of winning.
Daly had almost given up hope.
“I knew he would be out the back, but not that far.” Daly said.
“He got absolutely knocked over at the start when they all came across.
“He kept reeling them in, reeling them in.
“When they ran down the back, he was a clear last.
“On the turn I didn’t think we had a chance because it’s only a 200m run in, then he kept coming and ran over the top of them.”
After ending a 650 day losing drought, Daly gives Armed And Ready a great shot of going back to back in next month’s Carnarvon Cup (2000m).
“I think he’s a silly chance in it, don’t worry about that.” Daly said.
“2000 is going to suit him better than the 1900, that’s his go.
“He will just keep coming at them.
“He will be back and have to do a big job again, but he’ll take benefit out of the run.”
Julio Santarelli