Australia: Tom Quilty Gold Cup: Special bond shows plenty of endurance

Weeklytimesnow.com.au - Full Article

KAROLIN MACGREGOR, Tasmanian Country
June 29, 2017

DEBBIE Grull knew there was something special about Lauralyn Notorious when she first saw the horse as a foal just a few days old.

Now, 13 years down the track, the pair are heading off to try to achieve back-to-back wins in the country’s most prestigious endurance championship, the 160km Tom Quilty Gold Cup.

Ms Grull and Fred, as the horse is known at home, won last year’s middleweight section and overall ride in a time of 10 hours and 21 minutes.

This will be the combination’s seventh Quilty event. They have placed in the top five in each of their past five Quiltys — a fantastic result in a competition where just getting over the line and passing the final vet check is a huge achievement.

Ms Grull, of Staverton, said she first saw Fred as a baby and he already stood out.

“I saw him when he was three days old and liked him, so I got him when he was weaned,” she said.

“I know the people who bred him and his mother had escaped one time and galloped 7km down the road and jumped two cars. I thought that’s like two Melbourne Cups, so I knew he would probably have plenty of stamina...”

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