12 Sep 2016
Nautile takes out Bedourie Cup
The Kristie Clark-Peoples’ trained Nautile has won the 2016 Bedourie Cup on the weekend. Nautile with
Emerald jockey Scott McCullum aboard came into the race having finished third in last week’s Birdsville Cup
and was determined to do better this time round. The horse had a dreadful start slipping back several lengths
behind the field before catching up by the last turn McCullum steered Nautile to the lead in the home straight
and then powered home to win by five lengths from the Heather Lehmann trained Moore Alpha.
McCullum said he didn’t panic after the bad start. “We just got back to the field and once I found the fence
I got a dream run home,” McCullum said. "We just got back to the field and once I found the fence I got a
dream run home - Scott McCullum" “It was a good job in the end.”
The meet was a successful end to the three-week Diamantina racing carnival after Betoota and a Birdsville
meet shortened due to heavy rain last week. There was no rain in Bedourie but crowds were down on
previous years due to the fact many did not come out to Birdsville due to the closed roads.
Still, an enthusiastic crowd of locals and visitors were on hand to see a lively six-race meet. Earlier there were
big cheers after Race 2 the Karaman Downs / Birdsville Hotel Open when a horse owned by Bedourie Race
Club stalwart and local landholder at Cluny Station Garth Tully took out the race.
Whispering Death had finished second in its most recent start at Betoota but had won at Mount Isa last year
and was back in the winner’s ring again with a late flourish from Mount Isa jockey Keith Ballard to win by two
lengths. Tully said his horse had backed up well from Betoota. “He likes it in Betoota and he clearly likes it
here too,” he said. The entire Tully clan posed for the winning photo after the race.
In Race 3 the Toby and Gem Harris / Toowoomba Truck Spares Class B Handicap Italian Affair held off Shop
Fraar’n Wide to win by a length. Jen See See won Race 5 the McInnes Wilson / Cava Hydraulics / City &
Country Realty QTIS B55 Hcp.
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Desert Yarns September 2016