Wayne Brown and Michael Heagney dominate Digger’s Cup program

Michael Heagney. Image: Bradley Photos. 

Tamworth trainer Wayne Brown and journeyman jockey Michael Heagney dominated the 2024 Digger’s Cup program at Inverell on Saturday.

Combining for a treble of victories, Brown and Heagney won the feature on the program, the Inverell RSL Sub Branch Digger’s Cup, with up-and-coming stayer Everlasting Kiss.

Stepping back from a 2418m Benchmark 65 Handicap at Eagle Farm on November 5, where the four-year-old Justify mare finished fifth, the Tamworth galloper looked the class runner of the field at Inverell, with punters agreeing when backing her into $2.90 favourite.

Racing on the speed, Everlasting Kiss showed a good turn of foot when turning for home before holding on for a length victory from the Jane Clement pair of Hardyo (Shannen Llewellyn) and Don Quixote (Leeshelle Small), finishing second and third, respectively.  

Heagney, who’s been riding in good fashion, helped Brown win the second and third events earlier on the card.

Riding Nipper Bee ($3.10), Heagney followed the rails on the five-year-old Supido gelding that was strong to the line when winning the Inverell Picnic Race Club 1200m Maiden Plate.

Then, aboard the heavily supported favourite Super Beau ($1.45), Heagney got everything out of the four-year-old Brazen Beau gelding when winning the Inverell Ford 1600m Class One/Maiden Plate.

In the second feature race of the program, Toowoomba visitor Josh Oliver scored a big win with True Patriot ($41) in the Don Bartlett Memoria Sapphire City Steel and Pipe Bush Battler’s Cup (1600m).

In a terrific finish, Mikayla Weir arrived in time on True Patriot to edge the Josh Sweeney-trained Archers Reign (Yvette Lewis, $11) by a nose, while in third and nearly two lengths off the winner was the Jane Clement-trained Glorien (Shannen Llewellyn, $6.50).

The most impressive winner on the card was the Niklki Pollock-trained and Billy Cray-ridden International ($2.15) in the TLE Electrical 1050m Maiden Plate.

Taken to the front, the four-year-old Pierro mare, trained out of Scone, was strong to the line when winning by two lengths in a smart run of 1:00.62.

Jane Clement, who had a good day at Inverell, also landed a winner, with Artic Panther ($4) prevailing in the Nutrien Ag 1200m Class Two Handicap.

Ridden by Shannen Llewellyn, the four-year-old Frosted gelding sprinted away for a three-length win.

With the Digger’s Cup program in the books, the Inverell Jockey Club is now preparing for their two biggest meetings of the season.

Race on Boxing Day, DJ Jorde will headline entertainment before the club’s showcase race meeting, featuring the Inverell Cup on New Year’s Day.

Results

Race 1 - TLE Electrical and Data Supplies 1050m Maiden Handicap.

Winner: International (Billy Cray) for Scone trainer Nikki Pollock.

Race 2 - Inverell Picnic Race Club 1200m Maiden Plate.

Winner: Nipper Bee (Michael Heagney) for Tamworth trainer Wayne Brown.

Race 3 - Inverell Ford 1600m Class 1/Maiden Plate.

Winner: Power Beau (Michael Heagney) for Tamworth trainer Wayne Brown.

Race 4 - Nutrien Ag Solutions - Inverell 1200m Class 2 Handicap.

Winner: Artic Panther (Shannen Llewellyn) for Bendemeer trainer Jane Clement.

Race 5 - Inverell RSL Sub Branch Digger's Cup.

Winner: Everlasting Kiss (Michael Heagney) for Tamworth trainer Wayne Brown.

Race 6 - Don Bartlett Memorial Sapphire City Steel & Pipe Bush Battler's Cup.

Winner: True Patriot (Mikayla Weir) for Toowoomba trainer Josh Oliver.