Mist clears for Team Curtis in the Stayer’s Cup

Veteran mare Bacio Del Mist delivered a long-awaited breakthrough victory, taking out the Stayer’s Cup at Rosehill in a hard-fought finish that rewarded months of consistency and determination.

Trained by Lee and Cherie Curtis, the seven-year-old grey had endured a frustrating preparation, plagued by wide gates and race day misfortune. But on Saturday, she finally found her moment, coming from midfield to defeat Mormona by a neck, with Casual Connection close behind.

Lee Curtis said she had been a model of determination all prep, pointing to her strong showing in the Epona Stakes (1900m) where she only gained a start after missing her main target on the day.

“She has just had no luck. Not so much with the barriers, although they’ve been horrible, but just missing out on runs in races,” Curtis said.

“When she ran in the Epona, we had her in another race that day and she missed out by one, and she ran super in the Epona. Over the 2400 metres she would have run really well.

“She has had no luck and she has been running good races too. She is such a gutsy thing and so tough.”

The Stayer’s Cup win marked her first Saturday city win and capped a 12-run campaign stretching back to December. With her eighth birthday looming, retirement had been discussed, but Curtis said she could race on if she keeps performing.

“The plan was to go through this prep and wind it up but the owners might want to race her for another twelve months,” he said. “She is a marvel for a $30,000 yearling.”

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