HOMEBRED GIVES HIS MORUYA RIVALS A THRASHING

WE often wonder how some horses get their names?

This particular one might sound a bit strange, but there’s a story behind it – and he’s a winner.

Kembla Grange trainer Paul Murray this morning explained how yesterday’s Moruya winner Gooloo Bucky got his monicker.

“Gooloo Bucky was bred by our cousin Leon Murray, who also bred his dam Jake’s Purse,” Murray said.

“Gooloo Creek runs between our properties at Conjola on the South Coast, and the gelding’s nickname is Bucky.”

At his seventh start, and second this campaign, the three-year-old son of Ready For Victory was well supported to start a $2.60 favorite in the Maiden Plate (1200m).

Ridden by Chad Lever, he settled in second place behind eventual runner-up Brutal Eyes ($4.20), and it was evident that the pair had the race to themselves on the home turn.

Gooloo Bucky took over on straightening, and there was plenty of pep in his step over the last 200 metres.

He forged clear to score by nearly three lengths, with Beauty Dash ($5.50) third.

Murray trialled Gooloo Bucky, who is the first and only foal of his dam, once as a late two-year-old and didn’t kick off his career until well into his three-year-old season last December.

“He’s got a lot of ability, but is still doing plenty wrong,” he said.

“I think he is going to be a nice horse when he puts it all together.”

Murray claimed his 17^th winner of the season, and also had some good news about his talented mare Welcometobarbados, who was a shock withdrawal only days before she was due to contest the $1m Provincial-Midway Championships Final (1400m) at Royal Randwick in April.

A winner of five of her nine starts, Welcometobarbados was found to have chipped a bone in her off fore fetlock, robbing her trainer of the chance to emulate his legendary late father Bede, who won the inaugural 2015 Provincial Championships Final with Sure And Fast.

“The mare’s rehab has been going well,” Murray said.

“We did a lot of walking and swimming with her before she went to the paddock.

“She will come back to the stable at the end of the month to begin another preparation.”

Fellow Kembla Grange trainer Mitchell Beer and his apprentice Holly Durnan combined for a Moruya double with Blesstas ($6) and Your Not The Boss ($8), and teamed again at Newcastle today to land the opener with Headwater two-year-old Pewter Pearl ($7.50).

Story John Curtis, July 12, 2025