Ideal Arden created his own slice of history in winning the Nelson Pine Industries Nelson Winter Cup at Richmond Racecourse on Sunday.
The six year-old’s 100th start saw him earn the biggest win of what has been a gritty career, and also allowed him to break through the $100,000 career earnings barrier.
While collecting the trophy, trainer Bruce Hutton mentioned it had always been his ambition to earn six figures with the horse.
Ideal Arden won on both days of the two-day Nelson meeting at his first look at the track.
In slushy conditions, driver Gavin Smith took him to the front of the field and asked the more-favoured runners to chase him down.
Highview Freddy, Joey Macguire and race favourite Fifth Edition all got close on the line, but Ideal Arden was not to be denied.
The win gave Gavin Smith a first in his long career, with Sunday being the first time the reinsman had driven four winners in one day.
He said post-race, with conditions deteriorating he wanted to be near the front.
“Conditions meant we had to go forward and see how the race panned out from there, but (Ideal Arden) fought on well.”
One of the more popular winners of the day was Compliant. Two of its owners are Richmond’s Gus Cuthbertson and Russell Aitkenhead.
He also led most of the way and held off all challengers down to the winning post.
The Nelson Racing Club’s punters club was also a success on the day, giving each of its members $37 back for the initial $10 investment.
