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Couleur Bizarre wins 2018 Bunbury Cup

Headshot of Mitchell Woodcock
Mitchell WoodcockSouth Western Times

Bunbury’s Stelmach stable has shown persistence pays off after Couleur Bizarre claimed victory in the $120,000 XXXX Gold Bunbury Cup (2200m) at the Bunbury Turf Club on Sunday.

It took 16 starts for the five-year-old gelding to break his maiden status back in December 2016 and 16 months later, Shaun McGruddy and Couleur Bizarre ($8) combined for another win at the Bunbury track, this time in the biggest race of them all.

The duo won by half a length from pre-race favourite Cappo D’Oro, while Dark Musket finished third.

Plays the Game and Beg to Differ finished fourth and fifth for trainer Michael Lane, while Peter and Matt Giadresco’s Prentice was seventh.

Incredibly it was the 20th race for Couleur Bizarre this preparation which gave him his 16th win in his 49th race.

Stelmach’s co-trainer and husband Jerry said as a Bunbury boy he had “dreamed” of winning a Bunbury Cup.

“To actually have one is an unbelievable dream,” he said.

“This is just unbelievable, I cannot believe we have just won a Cup.”

“One of our owners asked us if this horse was ever going to win a race.

“Christine is a genius.”

Stelmach said Couleur Bizzare always put in when it came to raceday.

“He is no superstar, but he is honest,” he said.

“And jeez, I love him. He was a cheap horse and now he has won nearly over $300,000, which is amazing.”

Stelmach said Couleur Bizarre spent a lot of time in the paddock during this campaign.

“After Christmas, Christine said ‘I am going to try to put him in the paddock all day’,” he said.

“He is just in the paddock 24-7.”

McGruddy had a fantastic week at Bunbury after riding Red Ora to victory in the $120,000 Amelia Park Bunbury Stakes (1400m).

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