Followers of picnic racing look forward to a unique triple header in northern NSW at this time each year. The series begins with the Boolooroo Cup fixture at Moree, followed at fortnightly intervals by hugely popular meetings at Mallawa and Talmoi. Some years ago the famous treble was given the romantic brand name of the Golden Triangle. Moree racing journalist Bill Poulos has kindly allowed me access to his review of Saturday’s Boolooroo Cup day. Bill’s passionate report may be attributable to the fact that he’s a part owner of the Cup winner.
(Banner image - Ricky Blewitt unsaddles Fiocchi after the grey gelding's second Boolooroo Cup win - courtesy Bill Poulos.)
FIOCCHI COLLARS BACK-TO-BACK B&W RURAL BOOLOOROO CUPS
Moree trainer Peter Sinclair collected his 11th consecutive B&W Rural Boolooroo Cup at Moree picnic races on Saturday – round one of bush racing’s Golden Triangle – when popular grey gelding Fiocchi led throughout to narrowly win the history-laden race. Sinclair has trained every Boolooroo Cup winner since 2012 – and 16 in total since 1995.
Sahara Bounty started Sinclair’s Boolooroo Cup dominance 28 years ago, with subsequent winners Midas Boy (2000-2001), Nepelle (2003), Jazzmaker (2007), Crystal Club (2012), Joppick (2013), Tapakeg (2014), One Double (2015), Dungiven (2016), Track Flash (2017-2018-2019), Liberty Head (2021) and Fiocchi (2022-2023) rounding out the trainer’s golden run.
Top amateur rider Ricky Blewitt led throughout to win on Fiocchi to give trainer Peter Sinclair his 16th Boolooroo Cup winner - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
The Boolooroo Cup was not on the programme in 2020, when COVID-19 forced Racing NSW to hold a crowd-free “Clayton’s” meeting at Moree. Six trophy races, embracing Moree, Mallawa and Talmoi picnic race clubs, were conducted. On Saturday, Fiocchi was chasing back-to-back Boolooroo Cups after winning the previous year from subsequent NSW Picnic Championships Final winner Hemsted.
Fiocchi joined dual winners Thalaba, Mulgate, Sarah Bay, Royal Toga, Dandy Secret, Carva Niche, Sahara Bounty, Midas Boy and Track Flash when top hoop Ricky Blewitt took Fiocchi straight to the front. “He’s a nice little horse, has some funny ways, but to me he’s untapped – he’s going to be alright when he works it all out,” Blewitt said.
Sinclair trains Fiocchi for the Our Next New Horse Syndicate, wife Jenny, and Moree Race Club president Rob Mather. “The horse was fit and strong, and it didn’t really bother me when he went to the front like that,” Sinclair said.
Fiocchi ($1.60fav) made every post a winner to score by a neck from Connie Greig’s fast-finishing Cheeky Nugget ($2.80) with Jane Clement’s Hardyo ($5) a similar margin away third.
A happy group of owners after the Boolooroo Cup. Our scribe Bill Poulos is third from left alongside his wife Cindy - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
Sinclair is uncertain whether Fiocchi will start at Mallawa over the June long weekend however there is a chance the grey could back up at a picnic meeting at Coonamble next Saturday. “He’s not real keen on dirt tracks so there’s a question mark over Mallawa, but we’ll definitely look at the Coonamble meeting,” Sinclair said.
Saturday’s win gave Fiocchi seven points as he strives for a berth in the $50,000 NSW Picnic Championships Final (1400m) at Coonamble on October 22. Moree trainer Doug Fernando also welcomed a return to the winners’ circle when tough mare Lady Cornelia easily won the 1600m Aircair Aviation Class 2 Handicap under the guidance of emerging picnic jockey Zara Lewis.
Lady Cornelia ($2.50) pounced in the straight to score by a length from Connie Greig’s Pahang ($1.80fav) with Sue Bigg’s Fu Lum ($17) two-and-a-half lengths away third. Bush racing’s Golden Triangle heads to Mallawa on Saturday, June 10 with Talmoi scheduled for Saturday, June 24.
Fiocchi returns to scale after back to back Boolooroo Cup wins - courtesy Bill Poulos.