Ubetcha Tigerpie after the 2026 Renshaw Cup
ONE of Australia’s most improved pacers Ubetcha Tigerpie has landed a slot in the $1.25mil Group 1 Nullarbor at Gloucester Park on April 17.
The Mick Stanley-trained gelding will fill the Ladbrokes slot, which became available when pre-post Nullarbor favourite Don Hugo was scratched earlier this week after a setback.
Stanley had been publicly pushing Ubetcha Tigerpie’s case since he denied star pacer Captains Knock an historic $1 million bonus by beating him in the Renshaw Cup at Penrith on March 20.
“He was so big at Penrith and he’s never gone better,” Stanley said. “I just felt he deserved a crack at one of the slot races and the Nullarbor was our preference rather than Cambridge ($NZ1 million Race by Sport Nation on April 10).
“I’d had a few chats, but nothing concrete, then Ladbrokes rang when Don Hugo was ruled out.
“I’m thrilled for the horse as much as anything that he’ll get a chance in a race like this. He deserves it.”
Stanley said the form line from the Renshaw Cup supported his case.
“He beat Captains Knock on his merits and he’s got a slot in NZ and Max Delight was behind us (third) and he’s going to the Nullarbor,” he said.
“I love old Max Delight, but we’ve had his measure for about the past 12 months.
“Don’t forget he won the Renshaw Cup around that small track at Penrith, which is a similar size to Gloucester Park.
“And we did it the hard way, sitting outside the leader most of the way.”
Stanley said the win continued Ubetcha Tigerpie’s strong form at the top level.
“His run in a Miracle Mile qualifier (fourth to The Janitor) was enormous and he showed at Penrith he can do work and be there at the finish, too,” he said.
“When I look at the likely (Nullarbor) field, I’m sure he’ll be very competitive, especially with a good (barrier) draw.”
Ladbrokes Head of Commercial & Industry, Dean Elliott, said he was pleased to secure Ubetcha Tigerpie on short notice.
“Losing Don Hugo, who we’d locked in five months ago and was favourite was a real blow, but Ubetcha Tigerpie is clearly in career-best form, will handle the tight Gloucester Park track and Mick (Stanley) has been fantastic to work with,” he said.
Ubetcha Tigerpie is the fourth confirmed eastern states trained runner for the Nullarbor, joining popular Victorian warhorse Bulletproof Boy, Max Delight (NSW), Triedtotellya (Tasmania).
They are all booked a flight from Melbourne to Perth on April 10.
Plans are for the quartet to stay in Perth for the $300,000 Group 1 Fremantle Cup a week after the Nullarbor.
Ubetcha Tigerpie is a $10 chance in the latest Nullarbor market behind local stars Minstrel ($2.50) and Magnificent Storm ($3.50).
PHOTO CREDITS: HRNSW/Brett Atkins
