Perth-trained Sugar Cain wins Geraldton Gold Cup, local horse Corn Cob claimed Iron Jack Abrolhos Plate

It was tough competition for locals on Sunday, with some of Perth’s best form horses making their way up to the Geraldton Gold Cup, with metropolitan-trained Sugar Cain claiming the honours.

But local trainer Julia Martin’s Corn Cob did not disappoint either, winning the second biggest race of the day.

Sugar Cain, trained by Grant Williams, took home the $54,800 in first-prize winnings for the 2022 Geraldton Gold Cup on Sunday at Geraldton Turf Club.

Winning jockey Patrick Carbery said he knew the mare had a good chance to win the cup with the form in her previous start.

“There were a couple in it with good form but she bought her A-game today. The track really suited her with a bit of cut in the ground from the rain in the last fortnight here,” Carbery said.

“She travelled well in the run and she gave me everything she had.

“It’s probably a bit disappointing for the locals. It’s always been a very competitive race. A lot of the stables want to target these types of races. It always makes it good competition and unfortunately the locals didn’t win it this time but I’m sure they will be fighting hard next time.”

Martin was confident in Corn Cob for race six, and the three-year-old gelding repaid the faith as it took home first place for the Iron Jack Abrolhos Plate leading up to the cup.

Although Martin wasn’t sure what to expect with Natasha Faithfull unable to ride Corn Cob, and jockey Victoria Corver stepping in.

“I knew he’d give it a good go. Having a different jockey worried me a bit as he can get naughty. He was better behaved. He proved he was a good horse,” Martin said.

Corn Cob won the $27,400 first placed prize money and paid $7 to win.

Martin said she was looking forward to the next Geraldton meet, the Easter Saturday Race Day, and hoped Galaxy Blaze would perform better having run 11th in the Geraldton Gold Cup.