Part 3 - Murwillumbah Cup 2026
Golden Cross
Golden Cross — 2026 Murwillumbah Cup winner for trainer Bryan Dais and local apprentice Archie McColm.
Kenny Had Said It
Kenny had said it before the race.
Golden Cross was flying.
Three wins from his previous four starts had been enough for Kenny, and somewhere amongst all the talk about $2.05 favourite Rock Empire and the rest of the Murwillumbah Cup field, he had quietly settled on the $6.50 second favourite.
Now there was nothing left to do but watch.
Keith and Betty stood with him as the field prepared for the Murwillumbah Cup at the Tweed River Jockey Club.
A few days earlier they had simply been travelling north in their caravan.
A detour had brought them to Murwillumbah.
Kenny had brought them to the races.
And now a five-year-old gelding called Golden Cross had given the three of them something to cheer for.
Funny how a detour can turn out.
Kenny had made his choice. Now Keith and Betty got their first close look at Golden Cross before the Murwillumbah Cup.
The Local Boy Comes Home
There was another story riding on Golden Cross.
Archie McColm knew Murwillumbah long before he knew what it felt like to ride a Cup winner.
He had grown up around racing here, watching and helping his father David McColm build a successful training career from Murwillumbah.
David would later take Far Too Easy all the way to Randwick and win the $2 million Kosciuszko.
For young Archie, those early days provided an education in horses, racing and the discipline the game demands.
Now he was an apprentice jockey.
And on Friday afternoon, he was riding in the Murwillumbah Cup.
Golden Cross raced well back through the early stages.
Then, sweeping towards the home turn, Archie decided it was time.
He asked Golden Cross to go forward.
The response was immediate.
Golden Cross began eating into the ground in front of him, rapidly improving around the turn before cornering five wide and suddenly finding himself within striking distance of the leaders.
It had taken a serious burst of acceleration just to get there.
But Golden Cross wasn’t finished.
His long run continued down the outside.
Kairos Louie, the $71 outsider, drove through along the inside and for a moment looked capable of making a race of it.
Then, inside the final 200 metres, Golden Cross changed gears again.
Away he went.
The margin at the winning post was 2.59 lengths.
Golden Cross first.
Kairos Louie second.
Kipling’s Journey third.
Favourite Rock Empire, after having his chance, finished out of the placings.
Kenny watched Golden Cross cross the line.
For a moment he said nothing.
Keith looked at him.
Betty looked at him.
Then Kenny smiled.
“Well, I did tell you.”
And Archie McColm wasn’t finished celebrating either.
Earlier in the afternoon he had partnered the Adam Campton-trained Krakarib to victory in the BF Charman Sprint.
Golden Cross had just given the young local apprentice a double.
But this one was different.
This one was the Murwillumbah Cup.
At home.
Kenny had made his choice. Now Keith and Betty got their first close look at Golden Cross before the Murwillumbah Cup.
A Golden Ticket
There was another story riding on Golden Cross.
Archie McColm knew Murwillumbah long before he knew what it felt like to ride a Cup winner.
He had grown up around racing here, watching and helping his father David McColm build a successful training career from Murwillumbah.
David would later take Far Too Easy all the way to Randwick and win the $2 million Kosciuszko.
For young Archie, those early days provided an education in horses, racing and the discipline the game demands.
Now he was an apprentice jockey.
And on Friday afternoon, he was riding in the Murwillumbah Cup.
Golden Cross raced well back through the early stages.
Then, sweeping towards the home turn, Archie decided it was time.
He asked Golden Cross to go forward.
The response was immediate.
Golden Cross began eating into the ground in front of him, rapidly improving around the turn before cornering five wide and suddenly finding himself within striking distance of the leaders.
It had taken a serious burst of acceleration just to get there.
But Golden Cross wasn’t finished.
His long run continued down the outside.
Kairos Louie, the $71 outsider, drove through along the inside and for a moment looked capable of making a race of it.
Then, inside the final 200 metres, Golden Cross changed gears again.
Away he went.
The margin at the winning post was 2.59 lengths.
Golden Cross first.
Kairos Louie second.
Kipling’s Journey third.
Favourite Rock Empire, after having his chance, finished out of the placings.
Kenny watched Golden Cross cross the line.
For a moment he said nothing.
Keith looked at him.
Betty looked at him.
Then Kenny smiled.
“Well, I did tell you.”
And Archie McColm wasn’t finished celebrating either.
Earlier in the afternoon he had partnered the Adam Campton-trained Krakarib to victory in the BF Charman Sprint.
Golden Cross had just given the young local apprentice a double.
But this one was different.
This one was the Murwillumbah Cup.
At home.
