LESLEY Jeffriess was hoping Lonely Orphan could win her a second and most meaningful Akubra Quirindi Cup on Friday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Instead, the five-year-old daughter of Domesday is likely to go to the spelling paddock after her Tamworth trainer woke to find her bay mare “had a lump on her leg”.
The winner of five of her 30 starts was one of 15 nominations for a record $50,000 Akubra Quirindi Cup (1600m) which has been a happy hunting ground for Lesley and her late and great father, Merv Corliss.
Corliss, 93, passed away Sunday night after an outstanding training career that spanned more than half a century.
“He had a good go at life,” Jeffriess said after advising of Lonely Orphan’s injury.
“He won three Quirindi Cups too.”
Those winners were Bellorissimo, Akwazoff and Victory Charm.
Jeffriess, who won the Quirindi Cup in 2010 with All Again, said Lonely Orphan was to have scans but regardless of the outcome she “would probably go to the paddock” for a spell.
“She’s had a prep,” she said.
“I don’t want to bust her.”
Winning another Quirindi Cup would have been just the memorial for her father.
“They are going to have a race day for him at Tamworth at their next Monday meeting,” she added.
The NSW Racing Industry is mourning Corliss’ passing. “Merv Corliss will be remembered as an outstanding trainer and horseman,” said Racing NSW chief executive Peter V’landys.
“He regularly travelled the state with his horses.
“And [he] won countless country cups making many friends along the way.”