An emotional Renee Schluenz (right) is congratulated after Forgiato and jockey Masayuki Abe handed the Innisfail trainer back-to-back victories in the feature Laura Cup in front of a bumper crowd on Saturday afternoon. Photo: Lyndon Keane.
Forgiato is the undisputed king of the Laura Cup after the 7-year-old sprinted to successive victories in the 1450-metre feature race on 29 June.
Laura Amateur Turf Club turned on the weather for the annual race meeting, with thousands of punters flocking to the track for small-but-quality fields in the five-race program.
Despite being the reigning champion after claiming the 2023 Laura Cup, Forgiato ($8) jumped as the outsider in the field but dominated in the final furlong to secure a 1.6-length win with jockey Masayuki Abe in the saddle over the much-fancied Brilliant Mind ($1.50F) and Choir Boy ($5).
The 2024 Laura Races were the place to be on 29 June as thousands of racegoers got trackside to watch the five-race program. Photo: Lyndon Keane.
Innisfail trainer Renee Schluenz was emotional after the Super Easy gelding returned to scale and said she was now aiming to make it a Laura Cup trifecta with three in a row in 2025.
“That was a really good field, but he loves this track; he just loves it so much,” she told Cape York Weekly.
“I hope we can make it three [in a row next year].”
Abe praised his mount and said it was a case of pointing Forgiato in the right direction and just letting him do his thing as he wound up over the final 200m.
“He’s been here before and he’s done it before,” the hoop said.
“I knew he’d dig in and get it done.”
The Laura 10,000 Class 3 Plate over 1000m kicked off the card, with Nor Yadi piloting Pomade ($2.50) home for trainer Fred Wieland ahead of the Bonnie Thomson-trained Boomalina ($6) and favourite Saturday Vibes ($1.50F).
Delancy ($1.50F) proved the market right in the 1200m Bill Ware Benchmark 50, handing Yadi an early riding double as the Steve Massingham-trained 4-year-old eked out a narrow win from Muriel’s Wedding ($2) and Nellyation ($12).
The celebration begins for connections of Forgiato after the 7-year-old gelding claimed back-to-back Laura Cup wins for Innisfail trainer Renee Schluenz on Saturday afternoon. Photo: Lyndon Keane.
Wieland got his second of the day when apprentice hoop Jenna Edwards booted home favourite Mazzaratti ($1.60F) in the Laura Bracelet Benchmark 50 0.74L in front of Borlotti Beans ($2.20), with a clear gap back to third-placed Sir Roland ($10) for Yadi and trainer Jenny Ball.
The other feature on the program was the Pioneer Cup Class 6 Handicap, with a field of five battling over the 1200m journey to build the crowd excitement ahead of the Laura Cup.
Equal favourites Strategist ($2EF) and Tycoon Beau ($2EF) put on a thrilling finish for racegoers, with Edwards saluting for the second time aboard the Janel Ryan-trained Written Tycoon gelding, barely half a length in front of Massingham’s Tycoon Beau with Abe in the saddle, with Always Written Off ($3), another son of the champion sire, claiming third spot.
Did we spot you out and about at the 2024 Laura Races? Check out out gallery here.
Baylee Morama puts his bet on ahead of the second race in Laura on Saturday afternoon. Photo: Lyndon Keane.
