THE DOCTOR OF GREAT MEADOW

Doc Cebu repeats as International Gold Cup champ

By Betsy Burke Parker, Special to the Times

Charlie Fenwick is no longer questioning his purchase of Doc Cebu.

The fleet gelding has found his way into Fenwick’s heart and into the record books after rolling to his second straight International Gold Cup title Saturday at Great Meadow.

The victory in the $75,000 timber stakes propelled the 8-year-old Hard Spun gelding into the lead for this year’s National Steeplechase Association timber title with only one weekend of timber racing remaining. He was NSA division champ last year.

In muddy conditions, jockey Hadden Frost played a waiting game with early leader Le Chevalier (Jack Doyle up) for the first three miles before drawing away up the long Great Meadow homestretch for decisive 5 1/4-length victory in the National Steeplechase Association’s richest fall timber race.

Eventual International Gold Cup winner Doc Cebu, right, jumps alongside locally-owned and -trained Le Chevalier before powering to victory in the 3 1/2-mile headliner Saturday at Great Meadow.

PHOTO BY DOUGLAS LEES

Owned by Fenwick in partnershipwith Mike Hankin and Charles Noell, Doc Cebu set a course record winning last year’s International Gold Cup. Trainer Jack Fisher said last year’s 11-length drubbing may have been faster, but Saturday’s victory was more decisive.

“He handled the ground, no problem,” said Fisher of Doc Cebu over the yielding turf on the cloudy, cool afternoon. “He had to knuckle down to shake (Le Chevalier.)”

Frost broke Doc Cebu sharply, with Le Chevalier second until current leading rider Doyle sensed Frost was choking down the pace and moved Le Chevalier to the lead.

When Le Chevalier began to weaken approaching the last two fences in the stretch, Doc Cebu took command and drew clear at the wire.

The win lifted Doc Cebu’s 2018 earnings to $102,000 and moved him ahead of Maryland Hunt Cup and Grand National winner Senior Senator, who has $90,000 in the bank.

Fenwick acquired Doc Cebu off the flat in a two-horse deal for $12,000 in 2016. He ran him through the first, and last, NSA steeplechase auction at Great Meadow, but the unproven horse was first in the sales ring and didn’t draw a single bid.

“I was driving home to Maryland after the sale,” Fenwick recalled. “I was sad, and mad, but I thought, what the heck, I sort of like this horse. I’ll just put him in training and see what we’ve got.”

After 24 hours of rain soaking the region, International Gold Cup was a mud-fest. Jockey Darren Nagle, above, was freckled with mud after his second of two wins.

PHOTO BY BETSY BURKE PARKER

And the rest is history. “Today was a classic timber race,” said Fenwick, the sport’s leading timber jockey in the 1970s and 1980s.

Favored at 6-5, Doc Cebu paid $4.40 to win after running the distance in 7:30.90.

Full results and more photos are at nationalsteeplechase.com

By the numbers

• 1: Number of carrots dropped by 9-year-old Alexis Nicholas as she offered her railside tailgate crudites to Lissa Green’s lead pony.

• 2: Number of riders that fell from, or with, their horses – from 63 starters in eight races (no one was hurt).

• 6: Number of favorites that won Saturday. Steeplethon winner Katnap was oddsmakers’ morning line favorite but, mystifyingly, slid to 7-2 secondchoice by post time

• 33 2/5: Number of seconds slower Doc Cebu’s 2018 finish time was than his recordsetting 6:57 2/5 last October

• $80,000: Estimate of betting handle, less than previous parimutuel meets at Great Meadow but in line with the lowered attendance due to chilly rain that fell from Friday morning through the day’s second race

Jockey Ross Geraghty called hurdle stakes winner Optimus Prime the best horse he’s ever ridden. With 4,000 career races, that’s quite an accolade.

PHOTO BY BETSY BURKE PARKER

HORSE BRIEFS

TRAIL RIDES: Meetze Park benefit is Sunday

Ride Fauquier, the local horse group spearheading development of Meetze Park Station horse facility in Warrenton, hosts a benefit trail ride is Sunday, Nov. 4 from Great Meadow in The Plains. The two-hour guided ride moves off at 10 a.m., with refreshments served after. RSVP info@ridefauquier.com or visit ridefauquier.com

Elsewhere, the Clifton Horse Society hosts their annual Scrabble ride Nov. 10 from the Fountainhead Regional Park in Fairfax Station. Contact kkmcdaniel2015@gmail.com

SOUTH AFRICA WILD RACE: Altman finishes 7th

Bull Run Hunt whipper-in Jamey Altman finished seventh in the Race The Wild Coast five-day horse race in South Africa. His time was 41 hours, 48 minutes. Rosie Riall, an endurance rider from England, won in 38:35:01, a half-length in front of English rider Anna Boden. California hunter-jumper trainer Melissa Montgomery was third, 40 minutes behind the leading pair, with English rider Daisy Soames fourth, five minutes behind Montgomery. English rider Iain Paterson, the first man to finish the 300-mile coastal race, was fifth with Spain’s Francisco Schnaas sixth.

Complete race details and photos are on Rockethorse Racing’s Facebook page.

WINTER SERIES: Jumpers, dressage schedules

Beverly Equestrian near The Plains hosts a winter schooling jumper series. Dates are Nov. 17, Dec. 16, Jan. 12, Feb. 23 and March 23. Classes start at 9 a.m., with levels from poles to 3-foot-6, or higher. Email info@ beverlyequestrian.com for a prize list or visit beverlyequestrian.com

Elsewhere, Spencer Sport Horses near Hume hosts a dressage series, with show dates Dec. 1, Jan. 19, Feb. 9 and March 9. Riders can perform any USDF, FEI, USEA or freestyle test. Enter at eventclinics.com or visit spencersporthorsesva.com

HORSE SHOWS: Quarter Horse show Nov. 16-18

Frying Pan Park in Herndon hosts their annual autumn quarter horse breed show Nov. 16-18. Log on for more information: fryingpanequestrian.com

ART EXHIBIT: Saltwater fly fishing exhibit

The National Sporting Library and Museum in Middleburg has a new multi-media exhibit on the history of saltwater fly fishing. Displays include evolving tackle, art and more. Visit nationalsporting.com