HOME-town hopes Jeremy Sylvester and Robert Thompson had another successful day at Cessnock on Tuesday.
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Sylvester trained a winning double and Thompson rode a treble. But the lethal duo missed the race they craved most, the iconic Jungle Juice Cup (1350m).
Goulburn-trained Ultima Chance, ridden by champion Dubbo jockey Greg Ryan, scored a commanding win in the feature.
The Sylvester-trained, Thompson-ridden Three Sheets was 2.3 lengths second. Annandale Lass was 1.3 lengths back third.
Sylvester has trained eight winners of the Cup and Thompson ridden the winner 11 times. They had combined for six wins.
“It would have been been ideal to win the home-town cup,” Sylvester said. “He is probably the best horse I have had in it potential-wise. It doesn’t always pan out that way.”
Three Streets had won his past two starts at Randwick before Tuesday but struggled to run out the 1350m on a track that was rated a heavy eight.
“Robert wasn’t happy with Three Sheets in the going,” Sylvester said.
“Even though he has wet-track form, he wasn’t gripping. He wasn’t comfortable and at one stage Robert thought he was going to run second last. He is a very determined horse. He put in and chased hard and got second. That is OK.”
Sylvester’s other Cup runner, Collar, which finished second last year, and Street Savvy were declared non-runners after stewards ruled they were denied a fair start.
Sylvester’s two winners were Bayview Emperor in the class 3 handicap (1150m) and Step Lightly in the benchmark 55 handicap (1750m). Thompson won aboard Step Lightly and the Allan Denham-trained Wing Snipper and Happy Go Plucky.
