Collie mare all heart in thrilling Bunbury Cup dead-heat

Raquel Williams’ champion mare Paddy’s Shadow etched her name in WA racing folklore on Saturday after both she and highly-rated True Attraction could not be split in the $125,000 Furphy Bunbury Cup (2100m) at Ascot. It was the second dead-heat in Bunbury Cup history, with the judge unable to split both runners on the line, despite a lengthy post-race deliberation. Utgard Loki, True Attraction’s stablemate and ridden by Myalup’s Lucy Warwick, ran third. Heading into Bunbury’s famous race, the Collie seven-year-old’s form had been solid. After a narrow second to Midnight Blue in the Perth Cup on New Year’s Day, the gutsy mare finished fifth to True Attraction in the Detonator Stakes (1800m) on February 19 after bolting home with her trademark flourish. Prior to her present preparation, Williams told the Bunbury Herald she felt Paddy’s Shadow had never been fitter — and how telling these words turned out to be. Ridden by regular mount Shaun O’Donnell, Paddy’s Shadow sat comfortably in midfield heading into the home straight, with O’Donnell positioning her on the rail. As the field opened up with seconds remaining, the clever rider masterfully moved the seven-year-old into the middle of the track. With less than 100m to run, the seven-year-old’s majestic stride left her rivals breathless, as she speared her way through congestion and hit the line alongside True Attraction. Post-race, a modest Williams was humbled by the experience, as effectively it was the mare’s second consecutive Bunbury Cup win. “It is the next best thing (a dead heat) to winning one outright,” she said. “Adam (Durrant) has always been a good bloke and at the end of the day — a dead-heat is better than finishing second, so that is fine. “As soon as they went over the line, I thought she had got it, but when we were watching the slo-mo replay, I thought it was a head-up, head-down call. “But it is important for her (Paddy’s Shadow) as she obviously might be going to the breeding barn soon enough.” O’Donnell was also thrilled with the finish. “I had a terrific run,” he said. “This horse was second-up today following a spell after the Perth Cup. It was a fantastic effort by Raquel to have her right. “I just had to ride her for luck and I could not believe the run we got.” Durrant, who has enjoyed sustained success over many years as a trainer, was philosophical about the outcome. “It was a great day with good racing,” he said. “We are in strange conditions with COVID-19, however it is great for Raquel. She has been a part of this industry for such a long time. “I had four horses in this, so we were gang tackling it, and she was able to share it with us.”