Waterhouse To Field at Darwin Cup

Monday, 25 July 2005 00:00

Top Sydney based bookmaker Rob Waterhouse will make history next week when he fields for the first time on the $150,000 Carlton Draught Darwin Cup at Fannie Bay.

Waterhouse, one of the biggest rail bookmakers in Sydney, said he was delighted to be travelling to the Top End to field at the Northern Territory's feature race meeting of the year.

The husband of champion Randwick based trainer Gai said he has been at Fannie Bay on a Darwin Cup Day a few years ago and he really enjoyed the day's action.

"I visited the Darwin Cup with my wife Gai five years ago, we thoroughly enjoyed the racing and had an amazing day," Waterhouse said.

"I've never fielded in Darwin before and I'm really looking forward to Monday. This is the first time the Cup has not clashed with a Sydney meeting which has made it possible for me to attend."

Waterhouse said he's taken great interest in the recent race results from Darwin in preparation to Monday's meeting.

"I've been working hard on the form for the last couple of months and I see it as being a real challenge to get the form right on the day," Waterhouse noted.

Son Tom Waterhouse and Marc Lambourne will join the high profile bookmaker when adds great depth to the ring next week.

For what it's worth Waterhouse's early tip for the Cup is the in form interstate galloper Lanson.

"The Victorian Lanson has been in sensational form since arriving in Darwin and earns favouritism for the Cup with three wins from his last three starts."

"He won by three and a half lengths over the mile on Saturday and will carry a kilo less (54.5kg) on Monday. He won the Warracknabeal Cup earlier this year over the 2000m journey, so he's a proven performer at the distance."

Next Monday's Darwin Cup, run at listed level, will attract a huge crowd of race fans from Darwin and right around the country. Last year about 18,000 flocked to Fannie Bay on Cup Day.

PIC - Sportpix.