Proxy, Defiantly place in Cup for relocated Delane

Former Albany gallopers Proxy and Defiantly produced strong performances to finish second and third respectively in the $100,000 TABtouch Geraldton Gold Cup (2100m) on Sunday.

Trainer Garry Delane has relocated to Geraldton in the past few weeks after a 20-year stint based in Albany.

His first runners in the Mid West were late last month, leading up to Proxy and Defiantly racing in Geraldton’s biggest race of the season.

Defiantly, a winner of seven races including last start at the same track, jumped the $3.90 fixed odds.

Proxy was a $28 chance on the tote despite running in three country cups leading up to Sunday’s feature event.

Delane came close to his second Geraldton Cup, previously winning the race in a upset with Sir Donald in in 2001.

Proxy landed in the box seat, sitting third on the rails for rider Emma Stent before peeling out around the home corner and grabbing the lead inside the final 200m.

But the eight-year-old couldn’t hold off the fast-finishing Freez’emoff, running second by 1.3 lengths.

Defiantly settled just worse than midfield and hoop Lucy Warwick sent him wide around the field turning for home, running on strongly down the outside to finished third beaten 3.3 lengths.

Albany jockey Natasha Faithfull ended Geraldton Cup day on a high, leading all the way with $10 chance Ashburn to take out the final race on the eight-race card.

Ashburn held off a fast-finishing Menina and Balranto on the line.