Varenna Miss has won the QTC Cup

The build up to the QTC Cup was incredible throughout the week and there probably hasn’t been as much hype surrounding the race for a long time

With two scratchings a field of 16 started at Eagle Farm and the punters only wanted to know about a couple of horses.

Sincero had gone six straight coming into the event and he was a big favourite, not just in the QTC Cup but also in the Stradbroke Handicap next weekend.

It was a similar story for Curtana which was touted as the big challenger to Sincero and she was also looking to win this event on the way to the Stardbroke.

The others mentioned were King Pulse, Fallino and even Listen Son, but at the end of the day it was a flying mare which stole the show.

Varenna Miss won at Doomben two weeks ago as a short priced favourite but coming into the QTC Cup she didn’t rate a mention.

She was nearing 40 to 1 10 minutes before the race and even after some late interest she was a mile away on the tote.

The concern was the wide barrier(18) and if she would be able to find a spot in her preferred position mid-field.

She certainly did thanks to a brilliant start which allowed Dwayne Dunn to put her one or two wide just ahead of midfield.

She needed early pace and that’s exactly what she got with Listen Son flying in front and bringing the field onto the turn with some good sectionals.

From there the race opened up for Varenna Miss who showed a mountain of class to storm home down the outside.

Curtana had every chance early on but couldn’t stick with them as she picked up Listen Son and Zingaling.

Phelan Ready had an enormous run over the final furlong but it wasn’t enough to threaten her as she recorded a spectacular win.

Tony Noonan never lost confidence with her before the race and it was the same story after the gates opened.

“It worked out perfectly, I wasn’t concerned about the gate because she’s a big filly,” he said.

“I was confident watching her all the way up the straight.

“She’ll just continue to improve, she’s a good mare.”

This opens the door for a start in the Stradbroke but Noonan isn’t getting carried away and says she’s no certainty to run just because she can.

“The plan was always to go to the Winter Stakes but we’ll sit down at have a think about it,” he said.

“My only concern is that she’s only very lightly raced, I think in 12 months time she’ll be a lot better.”

Having said that the conditions of the Stradbroke certainly wouldn’t do her any disadvantage.

“The further she goes, the 1400m will suit her even better,” Noonan said.

For Dunn it was a ride he’d been anticipating for a while and he certainly didn’t disappoint after finally getting his shot.

“I’ve been wanting to get on her for a long long time,” he said.

“She’s a top class mare.”

Like Noonan though he thinks that we won’t see the best of her until 2012.

“She’ probably just a year away from getting to the top,” he said.

“She’s really well bred, she’s got everything there to make it.”

He believes she’s well and truly a Stradbroke class horse however he’s also not rushing into it just because the opportunity is there.

“She will be there, whether it’s this year or next year, either or,” he said.

The pre-race favourites didn’t even rate a mention across the trip with none of them having any influence on the race down the straight.

While the win certainly poses Stradbroke questions for Varenna Miss, it also poses a few for Sincero and Curtana.

While they both will probably still get a start, Farley and Moody both said pre-race that their inclusion was dependant on their runs in the QTC Cup first.