Hawkesbury's Garry White confirmed he will be back to chase a hat-trick of wins in The Oriana Orange Gold Cup Showcase in 2020, just moments after watching Letter to Juliette defend her title at Towac Park on Friday afternoon.
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The reigning champion jumped as a short, $3.50 chance in Friday's $65,000, 2100-metre feature and she proved exactly why, producing as clinical a run as you'll ever see in Racing Orange's biggest event to salute by half a length.
As well as being White's second victory on the trot, it was the Hawkesbury trainer's fifth career triumph in the race, making him the undeniable champion of the Orange track.
Before the five-year-old mare's back-to-back wins he's also tasted success twice with Aussie Statesman and once with Peaceful Joe over the years.
"I hadn't even thought about it being three in a row next year. You know, I think five would probably do me but I definitely will be back next year," White said.
"I really just love this Orange track, it's a great course and it gives all the runners a good chance to win. It's great to get another one though."
As he did in last year's win celebrated hoop Mathew Cahill had the ride, and what a ride it was.
After jumping well from the inside he found perfect position on the rails early as prelude winner Cowboys Karma took up the running, although to be fair he went way too early and was probably beaten by the opening turn.
$3.30 favourite Itasca, trained by Scott Singleton, pushed up alongside Cowboys Karma on the back straight but like the Dubbo-trained prelude winner he went too early and faded well before the straight.
It was Richard Litt's Joy's Joe that took the lead into that straight and held it until the last 50 but Letter to Juliette's turn of foot in the dying stages was simply too good, the reigning champion storming to victory with a perfectly-timed surge.
"Five (wins), it has to be a record doesn't it?," Cahill asked, before heaping praise on the trainer and his mare.
"She's a good mare this one, a genuine stayer, she was good again [on Friday].
"It's great to be able to help Garry continue his success here."
Joe's Joy ($5) held on to finish second with Andrew Molloy's Welcome Art ($7) running third.
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