Incomplete Wins The 2012 Virginia Gold Cup

INCOMPLETE LEADS G'DAY G'DAY TO THE WIRE (Douglas Lees Photo)

National Steeplechase Association: Robert A. Kinsley’s Incomplete pulled away from rival Bubble Economy and then turned back a late challenge from G’day G’day to win the 87th running of the $75,000 Virginia Gold Cup at Great Meadow race course in The Plains on Saturday, May 5.

Ridden by Joey Elliott, Incomplete finished three-quarters of a length ahead of Magalen O. Bryant’s G’day G’day, who in turn was two lengths clear of Guts for Garters, who was a supplemental entry to the Virginia timber classic. Arcadia Stable’s Bubble Economy, who had won the 2010 Virginia Gold Cup en route to his third National Steeplechase Association timber championship, finished fourth, and Alfred C. Griffin Jr.’s Aero was fifth. The other two starters, Yin Yang and Voler Bar Nuit, were pulled up.

Irish-bred Guts for Garters set the pace in the middle stages of the race under Darren Nagle, while Incomplete and Bubble Economy stalked him. FOXY Stable’s Guts for Garters maintained his lead at the second to last fence, but Incomplete moved past him and set sail for the finish line. G’day G’day came flying at the end under Carl Rafter to grab the place spot as Guts for Garters held on for third. Incomplete ran the Virginia Gold Cup’s four miles in 8:38.80 on firm turf.

(Douglas Lees Photo)

Trained by Ann Stewart, Incomplete kept his perfect 2012 record intact with his second victory over the Great Meadow course in six months. He won the International Gold Cup at the Virginia course on Oct. 15 and then ran second in the New Jersey Hunt Cup at Far Hills a week later. He started the current season with a 1 3/4-length victory over Bubble Economy in the My Lady’s Manor in Monkton, Md., on April 15. Stewart said immediately after the race that the Virginia Gold Cup was his next target. The Virginia Gold Cup victory raised his 2012 earnings to $61,000.

G’day G’day entered the Virginia Gold Cup on a two-race winning streak. Trained by Doug Fout, he had won the Pennsylvania Hunt Cup on Nov. 6 and then claimed the Middleburg Hunt Cup over Aero, also trained by Fout, on April 21.

VA GOV BOB McDONNELL AWARDS TO THE GOLD CUP TO THE ROBERT KINSLEY FAMILY (Dougas Lees Photo)