$3000 bargain buy Kerchak wins Mooloolaba Cup for trainer Ben Ahrens

It seems highly improbable that any of the contenders in Saturday’s event is a future Melbourne Cup champion.

But Gold Coast trainer Ben Ahrens certainly didn’t care about that as progressive stayer Kerchak had a wide run but still exploded late to score the $160,000 Cup (1600m) on the Sunshine Coast in sizzling fashion.

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It was an amazing story considering six-year-old Kerchak, who has now won eight from 15 starts, was picked up for just $3000 in an online sale last year.

And he was ridden by promising apprentice Cody Collis in a non-claiming race.

Kerchak started the $3.80 favourite and those who backed him might have thought they had done their dosh as he got no favours in transit with a wide run.

But Ahrens wasn’t too worried and he was celebrating on Saturday night after the bargain basement buy produced a fabulous win.

“You do get a bit nervous when they are deep like that, but my instructions before the race were don’t be bothered if you are deep with the way the track is playing,” Ahrens said.

“The main thing was to keep his momentum and get a clear crack at them.

“The horse was able to do the rest.

“We were lucky enough to get this horse for $3,000 off a digital sale, the previous owners gave him his chance but he had tendon issues.

“So we picked him up cheap and, touch wood, he’s sound and everything is going well.”

As Kerchak ticked the box of winning on a heavy track, Collis was elated with a personal career highlight.

“That would be one of the biggest races I have won,” Collis said.

“Being deep on this track, given the conditions today, probably wasn’t the worst thing.

“I won on this horse last start, so I came into this race with plenty of confidence.”

Meanwhile, champion trainer Tony Gollan is certain he has unearthed a 2025 Queensland winter carnival contender with Transatlantic, a promising four-year-old son of Snitzel who walloped his opposition by almost five lengths.

Many punters expected Transatlantic to score the Class Three Plate (1400m), being backed from $2.20 to $2.05, but it was the emphatic nature of the romp which has Gollan dreaming big.

“The ownership group will be well rewarded with this horse, he will definitely play a part in the winter carnival next year, I’m sure of that,” Gollan said.

“We were pretty confident today, even though he had never been on heavy ground before and even though it was a decent enough Class Three Plate.

“He has always been a really quality horse, I’ve loved him right from the get-go and he has come back as a gelding this preparation.

“There is a lot to look forward to with this horse and I think he will get to a very good level.”

Transatlantic is from the mare Gust Of Wind who was the last horse to defeat Winx before she went on her famous 33-race winning streak.

Originally published as $3000 bargain buy Kerchak wins Mooloolaba Cup for trainer Ben Ahrens