Exciting Warrnambool mare Cleo Cat added to her imposing record with victory in the $150,000 Group 3 Proud Miss Stakes (1200m) at Morphettville last Saturday. 
Backed in from $4 to start the $3.30 favourite in a field of 13, Cleo Cat beat Flyer by 1¾ lengths to take her record to seven wins from eight starts.
Trainer Tom Dabernig was excited with the lightly raced four-year-old’s performance.
“It was a great win,” he said. “She’s taken her connections on an amazing journey. 
“There’s not many horses that win seven of their first eight starts, and she was unlucky at her only unplaced run. It was 36 degrees at Geeling and she pulled up with heat stress. 
“Her last start win (in a three-horse field at the Warrnambool May carnival) was a great pipe-opener for the Proud Miss run. 
“I really don’t like backing her up so quickly but she pulled up a million dollars after Warrnambool. 
“It was like a track gallop for her. We just took her out the front gate and let her run around.”
Dabernig said Saturday’s black-type win had lifted Cleo Cat’s value as a broodmare prospect. He hopes to enhance that further when the mare has her next start in the listed Bel Esprit at Caulfield on May 31.”
Cleo Cat took her prizemoney to $262,939 with the Proud Miss victory.
Aiming for another Annual
Brilliant jumper Duke Of Bedford is in the spelling paddock after his thrilling Brierly-Grand Annual steeplechase double at the Warrnambool May carnival.
The Andrew Bobbin-trained Duke Of Bedford won the Brierly by four lengths and the Annual by 12 to establish himself in the top echelon of Australian ’chasers.
“He’s having a well deserved break,” said Stawell-based Bobbin. “He has nothing else to prove this year. The Grand Annual was his grand final and he won it. 
“I gave a bit of thought to keeping him in work and set him for the Grand National later in the year but I’ve decided to tip him out and bring him back for another tilt at the Grand Annual next year. 
“It’s hard to get horses up for the Grand Annual at the start of the season and keep them up for the Grand National at the end. 
“He’s only six years old. He’s got his jumping career in front of him. The average age of the last 15 Grand Annual winners is eight. 
“He’s pulled up a treat and should come back an even better jumper next season.”
Duke Of Bedford picked up $279,500 for his connections with his Warrnambool wins, taking his career earnings to $445,980 from 30 starts.
Grace back to the grind
Warrnambool jockey Harry Grace is slowly establishing himself back home after riding with success in New Zealand over the summer and early autumn.
Grace rode two winners at the Warrnambool carnival, following up with wins at Mount Gambier last Friday and Ararat last Saturday. 
“It’s tough picking up the pieces over here after so much time in New Zealand,” Grace said. 
“I had a bit of success in New Zealand but it’s difficult over there in the winter months so I’ve decided to come back home. 
“Trainers tend to forget you when you’re travelling backwards and forwards and I think that’s happened here to some extent. 
“I’m back riding trackwork here now and hopefully the phone will keep ringing. (Warrnambool trainers) Maddie Raymond and Paddy Bell have been good to me and so has Tom Dabernig. 
“I’m riding a bit of work for both stables and I’m also riding horses for Paddy and Michelle Payne at the trials and that’s working out all right as I rode a winner for them at Ararat on Saturday.”
Grace’s biggest local win was on Rolls in the 2023 Warrnambool Cup.
Old firm back in business
Colac trainer Daryl Cannon is under no illusions about Rippa Buddy’s ability despite the five-year-old’s win in 0-56 grade at Mount Gambier last Friday.
Under the urgings of veteran jockey Stan Tsaikos, Rippa Buddy ($9.50) hung on to beat See De Night in the 1564-metre contest.
Cannon says Ripper Buddy is honest but has limited ability.
“He’s no world beater,” he said. “It’s all about putting him in suitable races. He’s honest but he’s average. 
“It was great to have Stan on board,” he added. 
“Stan has ridden a lot of winners for the stable over the years but this is his first for a long time.” 
Tsaikos teamed up with Cannon to win the 1998 Wangoom Handicap with M’Selle De Enz.
In other stable news, Cannon is set to run last-start maiden winner Elphaba in a three-year-old race at Flemington on Saturday.