Cougar Express wins Bunbury Cup

Cougar Express has stunned the racing community, winning the $120,000 XXXX Gold Bunbury Cup (2200m) ahead of race favourite Tonto.

The Lindsay Smith-trained five-year-old bay gelding led for most of the race, but stormed home on the straight as jockey Joseph Azzopardi held him strong to cross the line and take the South West’s most prestigious race.

It was a tense start, with race favourite Tonto starting deep, but building from fifth on the turn to give Cougar Express a challenge.

Father-son trainer-jockey team Damian and Michael Lane could only manage a third place, while AHA-Cup winner Bedamijo completed the quartet.

Smith said the win was the biggest of his career.

“It has been a long campaign,” he said.

“We will give him a rest after this.

“This result was just sensational.”

Smith said at the top of the straight he knew the horse could get home.

“He is just a hard grinder with a heart of gold,” he said.

For Azzopardi it was a result which maintained his good form, having won three Listed races in the past month.

“Everything panned out beautiful,” he said.

“He kicked good and I thought I might have gone a bit too early. But he was tough and held on and we got the win.

“I couldn’t be happier with the way things are going at the moment.”

Smith said he aimed for Cougar Express to compete at this year’s TABtouch Pinjarra Cup.