Light Infantry Man claims one of Australia’s most gruelling races ever with heart-stopping Australian Cup win

Light Infantry Man has claimed one of the all-time most gruelling Group 1 wins, wearing down Pride Of Jenni in a stamina-sapping Australian Cup (2000m) showdown. In usual style, Pride Of Jenni ($13) raced out at a breakneck tempo, establishing a big lead over Just Fine ($91) and the remainder of the field at intervals. Light Infantry Man ($23) raced in third place but was still seven lengths off the tearaway leader passing the 800m. By that point, most runners were under riding due to the ridiculously strong gallop being set by Pride Of Jenni, though the eye was drawn to Birdman ($2.60f), who was travelling better than any other. Light Infantry Man was hooked out by Harry Coffey at the 600m but was immediately under the pump and by the time the group straightened, the pace-making mare’s margin had dwindled to four lengths and Ben Melham was poised on the button to unleash Birdman. At the 300m, Birdman cruised within three-quarters of a length of Pride Of Jenni and was all over the star mare, looking a case of when and not if he would go past. Meanwhile, Light Infantry Man was still making progress out wide, and he drew level with Birdman at the 200m with the latter’s run suddenly appearing to empty. However, neither of them could reach Pride Of Jenni, who fought as if her life depended on it and grasped to a narrow lead inside the final 100m. With irrepressible might, Light Infantry Man persisted to close and drew upsides his fearsome rival with the two going across the line as one. If anything, it looked that Pride Of Jenni had clutched to the narrowest of triumphs in a herculean feat, though uncertainty built as the judges took minutes to decipher the photo finish. Finally, it was determined that Light Infantry Man had clinched the verdict by the barest imaginable margin, giving the seven-year-old back-to-back Australian Cup victories to Coffey’s amazement. “I’m just a bit shocked because Jenni, she’s amazing,” Coffey said. “I got on terms with her and I thought I was going to beat her easily. What a racehorse, she fought hard. I actually thought that Dec (Bates) may have beaten me, so I went early with the knuckles to him. “He did say to me that if we happen to dead heat or you beat me, you’re not a bad mate to share it with. “Appreciate his kind words but what an incredible horse. Tough. It takes a bit to get past a mare when she’s like that and he did it. “That is two years in a row where he’s come to this race under sort of extreme conditions and just rose to the occasion when you need him at his toughest.” The result gave trainer Ciaron Maher the quinella, who ironically said that Light Infantry Man could not have won without Pride Of Jenni and her relentless tempo. “I don’t know who I’m more proud of, the winner or the second horse,” he said. “I thought it was going to be a spectacular race and to be fighting it out with two of your own, it’s pretty cool.” Declan Bates, Pride Of Jenni’s rider, was gushing in her praise. “She’s a warrior,” he said. “I don’t think I have ever asked of a horse what I asked of her today. I really asked her to extend quite early, and she responded so gallantly. “Frustrating not to win, obviously, but I am delighted for Harry.”