Beryl, is just a solid stone throw from Gulgong in the State’s Central West. Home to around 130 people, and now one bright, shiny trophy – the Bathurst Gold Cup, won on Friday night by one of the town’s most famous residents, Billy Creek.
Trained, owned and bred by Beryl’s own Ian Gilders, a former truck driver who only took out his trainer’s licence five years ago, Billy Creek charged home to snare the Cup and the biggest pay day of his 27-start career, a $40,000 first prize cheque, which lifted his career earnings beyond $100,000.
Not one of the favoured runners, Billy Creek began moderately from box 2, but was shuffled back under the speed from out wide in the run to the first turn.
What he did do which ultimately helped him win, was stick to the rails.
Billy trailed the leader Analysing and the pursuing pair, Slingshot Hooks and Chase Me Honey as they headed into the back straight. He pushed up under that pair down the back and got through to second on the top turn, before switching off the heels of the leader as they swung for home and powering away to win in 29.66s.
Analysing finished second 1¼ lengths away with kennemate Chase Me Honey a further ¾ length back in third.
Race favourite Ties That Bind was not the best away and when she was shuffled back to last and then checked on the first turn, her Cup was over.
The win caps a remarkable two months for Gilders and Billy Creek. In late November they won the Flight To The Phoenix event at Wentworth Park and won a slot in the $750,000 Phoenix race in Melbourne. He would run fourth in the final in December.
And now he has a Group victory in the Bathurst Gold Cup.
“It’s been an unbelievable ride. You can’t explain it,” Gilders said.
“I thought he was close enough up the back because he finishes very strongly. I thought if he gets in the back straight three lengths off the leader, they would want to be good to hold him out, and I didn’t think they could hold him out.”
And when they came past him at the 520m starting boxes: “I just said: “keep going boy. Can you keep going” … and he could.”
Gilders and his wife Joy bred Billy Creek from their bitch Midnight Jayne, who was trained on their behalf by leading trainer Ray ‘Jack’ Smith from Forbes.
Smith - who won the Group 1 Gold Bullion final at Albion Park with his kennel star Jungle Deuce on Thursday night - also trained the sire of Billy Creek, Brad Hill Billy, and the two trainers have a great friendship and rapport.
“I said to Ray Smith a while back there - at trials one morning (after Smith had won a big race) - gee you had a good night last night Ray,” Gilders explained.
“He said whenever you win a Group race it’s good night. I know what he means now.”
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