Group 1 Hume Cup (600m)

The Meadows. Best nominated.

Heats October 24. Final November 2

Winner to receive $100,000

By David Brasch

DEFENDING champ True Detective will be chasing his second Group 1 when he heads towards the Hume Cup (600m) at The Meadows late in October and early November.

\”He\’s a marvel,\” said part-owner George Farrugia of the son of Black Magic Opal-Little Grey the winner of 26 races and $387,000 (to time of writing).

\”He\’s had a bit of an injury-enforced break, but should be back right for, hopefully, the Sydney Cup at Wentworth Park and then back for the Hume Cup and all the big staying races in Victoria.\”

True Detective downed Zipping Potter and Lektra Spring to win the Hume Cup in 2019 for trainer Jeff Britton and part-owners Farrugia and Townsville-based Wade Gallagher.

\”True Detective goes really well around The Meadows,\” said George. \”Just a few weeks before the Hume Cup, he had won in 34.19 at The Meadows so it set the scene for a tilt at the Cup last year.\”

George and Wade got broodbitch Little Grey (Bit Chili-Meredith Grey) on loan from long-time breeder Bruce Fletcher in NSW.

\”Bruce and I have been friends for so long,\” said George. \”He was cutting down a few years ago and I decided to grab this bitch to breed a litter to Black Magic Opal.

\”It was all based on a double up on the Genuine Replica damline that was already proven via Black Magic Opal\’s son Lightning Frank a multiple Group 1 winner.

\”Another dog in the litter actually broke in better, but True Detective is the one who has kept improving all the time. And, like his mother, he\’s become a strong stayer.

\”It is a line that can toss up a good stayer every now and then. Lithgow Panther is one from the family in recent years.\”

George has just mated True Detective\’s litter sister Miss Crane, a multiple Angle Park winner, to Zambora Brockie to bring in yet another cross of the Genuine Replica family.

\”It is a hugely successful line and Brockie, and now Ritza Lenny from the family, are going great at stud,\” he said.

While the Hume Cup was True Detective\’s initial Group success, he has since won the Summer Distance Plate, Destini Fireball, the Garrards Gold Cup and Cup Night Stayers at Group and Listed level, but has also been placed in the Sandown Cup, Super Stayers and been a finalist in the Zoom Top.

\”Wade and I have had so much fun with this dog,\” said George.

\”Another Hume Cup would be the icing on the cake.\”

Caption: Plenty of smiles after True Detective won last year’s Hume Cup (Photo: BlueStream Pictures)