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King Island trainer Jim Taylor claimed his 13th success in the Jim McKenzie’s Agencies King Island Cup (1800m) on Wednesday when Mayoral Privileges claimed the Island’s premier race.
Mayoral Privileges settled towards the tail on the fence and took the shortcuts before getting one away from the inside around the home turn.
Ridden by fly-in Victorian jockey Jessica Booth, Mayoral Privileges ($2.50) was able to score by 2 3/4 lengths over stablemate Spiritual Thinker ($1.50 fav), with Side Cash ($2.50) a further 2 1/2 lengths away third in a time of 1:52.87s.
"It was a fine ride by Jess. This horse has been a difficult horse to ride because he wants to go slow early. We have now convinced Jess to make sure this horse stays up with them, and she thought she had the race won coming down the hill (near the 450m)," a delighted Jim Taylor said in the presentation.
Winning rider Jessica Booth was also pleased with the win.
"I can't thank Jim enough for the support he has given me to come to King Island, and thanks to the connections for keeping me on this boy, he has given me three really good rides now, and I'm really rapt," the jockey said.
The five-year-old Love Conquers All gelding is raced by many associates of Victorian trainer Henry Dwyer, who has been a massive supporter of King Island racing in recent seasons.
The win was Taylor's 13th Cup win, with the win being his first success in nine years.
Pacing CupCambro Flash justified favouritism to score in the 2025 King Island Pacing Cup (2438m).
The sole front marker began brilliantly, and while his handicapped rivals stood flat-footed and were all slowly away, Cambro Flash was able to put a break of close to 70m on his rivals in the early part of the race.
But 300m into the race, Cambro Flash galloped, allowing not only the field to tack on but also three of his four rivals to settle in front of him.
Trianer-driver Shane Keeler was able to slot into the one-one near the 1400m before moving three-wide at the 500m.
Cambro Flash swept to the lead in the straight and drew clear for a 14m win over Fighting Fire and Sugoi Alto in a mile rate of 2:19.78s.
Cambro Flash is owned and bred on the Island, with Keeler acknowledging Ian Styles in his post-race speech.
"If it wasn't for Ian, we wouldn't have horses. For all the time and hard effort we put in, it was great to get a bit back out of it," Keeler said.
The next meeting on King Island for the season will be the Recreational Day meeting on 11 January.