CHANGE OF TACTICS PAYS OFF FOR WITHOUT REG IN MANDURAH CUP

Trainer Radford’s 7YO galloper salutes with all-the-way victory

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An enterprising ride by jockey Holly Watson paid dividends aboard Without Reg in the A$100,000 (S$86,000) Listed Mandurah Cup (1,400m) at Pinjarra in Western Australia on Jan 3.

Taking Without Reg into unfamiliar territory was the winning move, and sets the inform galloper up fora potential shot at the Listed Bunbury Stakes (1,400m) at Bunbury on March 7.

The War Chant seven-year-old is proving a worthy “replacement” for trainer Rhys Radford’s recently retired stable stalwart Comfort Me.

The bay gelding had led and emerged successful just once, and that was back in a maiden race over 1,200m in November 2021.

Moreover, he had set the pace only once in his last 49 starts, so it came as a surprise when Without Reg brilliantly asserted to establish himself as the pacemaker.

Rolling at a suitable tempo upfront, Watson quickened from the 600m and put plenty in deep water, including River Rubicon (Shaun McGruddy), who faded and forced an early takeoff from Angel Undercover (Chris Parnham).

Despite the Neville Parnhamtrained 10-year-old Bruce Almighty (Laqdar Ramoly) looming upsides on the corner, Without Reg ($14) found extra and again pulled a length clear.

He held that margin to the post from the veteran galloper, while Angel Undercover finished third a further long neck astern.