House Of Lords Wins Bendigo Feature, Dr Cuthbertson Appointed Monash Director

Key facts

• House Of Lords won the Corvette For Cancer Handicap (2200m) at Bendigo on Saturday.
• The mare is trained by Peter Gelagotis and ridden by jockey Ben Allen.
• She finished sixth over 1800m at Flemington on ANZAC Day before winning a week later.
• House Of Lords has won five of 12 starts, with two placings.
• Dr Christine Cuthbertson appointed Director of Monash Rural Health Bendigo.
• Dr Cuthbertson holds a PhD in surgery and a Masters of surgical education.
• She has practiced as a general, breast and endocrine surgeon in Bendigo for 10 years.

Mare’s Quick Backup Pays Off at Bendigo

Promising staying mare House Of Lords (NZ) relished the quick backup when successful in the Corvette For Cancer Handicap (2200m) at the standalone Bendigo meeting on Saturday. Trained by Peter Gelagotis, the five-year-old daughter of Almanzor finished sixth over 1800m at Flemington on ANZAC Day and a week later was a gallant winner under jockey Ben Allen. Gelagotis acknowledged the gamble: “I took a gamble on today’s race and I gambled on running her last week and backing her up,” he said. The trainer has always believed she is a mile and a half horse but wanted to educate her mentally.

Race Execution and Jockey’s Role

Ben Allen executed the game plan well despite the mare not stepping cleanly, ending up a pair further back than intended. “Credit to Ben, who got back on and has had a good association with her and has won a few races on her,” Gelagotis said. The tempo was solid, and she was shunted on the corner, but she picked up and wanted to win.

Planned Break and Future Prospects

House Of Lords will go to the paddock for a ten-day break before heading to the beach to rejuvenate. Gelagotis wants to reward her, describing her as a progressive type. “If we just allow her to mature and soak up the atmosphere of it all, it will hold us in good stead for later in her career,” he said. She is still lightly raced for a five-year-old mare.

Breeding and Ownership Background

Bred by Peter Gillespie and Bill Gleeson, House Of Lords was a trial winner for Awapuni trainer Peter Didham before joining Gelagotis’s Pakenham operation. Raced by connections including staunch stable supporters Steve and Paul Moss, the mare has now won five of her 12 starts, with a further two placings. Out of the four-time Group One winner Shez Sinsational (NZ), House Of Lords is a half-sister to Group winners and top-flight placegetters Sinarahma (NZ) and House Of Cartier (NZ), and Group Two performer Manifique (NZ).

New Director at Monash Rural Health Bendigo

A new era has begun at Monash Rural Health Bendigo with the appointment of local surgeon Dr Christine Cuthbertson as its director. She will also assume the position of Associate Professor (Practice) in rural medicine. Dr Cuthbertson holds a PhD in surgery and a Masters of surgical education and has practiced as a general, breast and endocrine surgeon in Bendigo for the past 10 years. She believes the role allows her to heighten contributions to colleagues and the community. “We are all committed to quality education at Monash Rural Health Bendigo, and I felt that the biggest difference I could make would be to step into this role and make it easier for staff to be more effective,” she said.

Commitment to Rural Medical Education

Dr Cuthbertson already lives and works in Bendigo and is familiar with students and the site. She is doing less direct teaching but thinks having a committed director is vital to being the best site possible. She looks forward to strengthening the Monash medical program in the region. “I am very excited to see how far we can go with using our skills to boost students into their medical career,” she said. “There’s no limits to the ongoing improvements we can make to the program, and I’m excited to be a part of that future.”

The bottom line

• House Of Lords won the Corvette For Cancer Handicap at Bendigo, demonstrating resilience after a sixth-place finish a week earlier.
• Trainer Peter Gelagotis plans a ten-day paddock break followed by beach rejuvenation for the mare.
• House Of Lords is out of four-time Group One winner Shez Sinsational and is a half-sister to multiple Group winners.
• Dr Christine Cuthbertson, a local surgeon with a PhD in surgery, becomes Director of Monash Rural Health Bendigo.
• Dr Cuthbertson aims to improve staff effectiveness and strengthen rural medical education in the region.
• The appointments highlight Bendigo as a hub for both equestrian sport and medical training.