Sport
3 May, 2024
Western Racing Report
Nyngan trainer Rodney Robb, one of the all-time greats of western area racing, with his four-year-old gelding Nannu, on Thursday, was a popular winner of the 1400 metres Nyngan RSL ANZAC Nyngan Cup.
Nyngan trainer Rodney Robb, one of the all-time greats of western area racing, with his four-year-old gelding Nannu, on Thursday, was a popular winner of the 1400 metres Nyngan RSL ANZAC Nyngan Cup. Racing before a big crowd at Nyngan, the Cobar galloper Chapel Lane led by four lengths from Toulon Factor in the $16,000 Cup with Nannu travelling off the pace. In an exciting finish, Nannu (Ken Dunbar, $3.40) won by a head from Bush Warrior (James Rogers, $9) with Chapel Lane (Nyssa Burrells, $26) battling on for third.
Another Nyngan trainer scoring a popular win was Greg O’Neill with Are You Certain in the 1200 metres Inland Petroleum and Aries Resources Tritton Benchmark 45 Handicap. Midfield to the home turn, Are You Certain ($6.50) was desperately ridden by Andrew Banks over the closing stages to win in a three-way photo finish from Planet Ex (Shannen Llewellyn, $3.50 favourite) and Bonhomie (Georgina McDonnell, $5). Andrew Banks had earlier brought the Connie Greig, Dubbo trained Pahang ($2.50 to $2 favourite) from behind the leaders to win the 1100 metres Nyngan Bowling Club & Aeris Resources Tritton Class One Handicap by four lengths from Oh No Devon (Georgina McDonnell, $5) and A Tender Lady (Nyssa Burrells, $5).
Apprenticed to Dubbo trainer Brett Robb, the winners are starting to flow for Shannen Llewellyn and she achieved a double at Nyngan with Dozen Kilpatrick and Party Stop. From the Bendemeer stables of Jane Clement, Dozen Kilpatrick ($7) finished well, out wide, to defeat the Connie Greig trained stablemates Have Mercy (Andrew Banks, $1.90 fav.) and Billy Bent Ear (Georgina McDonnell, $5.50) by over two lengths in the 900 metres Luke Smith Plumbing and Josh Lister Building Benchmark 58 Handicap. Owned by picnic jockey Tony Williams, Party Stop ($2.60 fav.) was the first leg of a double for trainer Rodney Robb when overhauling the leader Lemoni (Hannah Johnston, 2.70) to win by almost a length. Typhoon Ginger came (Ken Dunbar, $4.80) third in the 900 metres Nyngan Pharmacy and Neill Earthmoving-Max Smith Memorial Maiden Plate.
Raced at Bathurst – Thursday, April 25 Greeted with enthusiasm by the very big crowd at Bathurst on ANZAC Day was the win by local galloper Fletchlo in the prestigious Bathurst RSL Club Soldiers Saddle over 1400 metres. The lightly raced Fletchlo is trained by Gayna Williams and this was the fourth win from nine starts for the four-year-old gelding. Xeiby and Musical Affair set a fast pace while Fletchlo and another well-performed local galloper De Forerunner from the Dean Mirfin stable raced near the tail of the field. Brogans Creek (Nick Heywood, $16) hit the front in the straight but in an exciting finish was beaten a half neck by the heavily supported Fletchlo (Mikayla Weir, $4.20 to $2.80 favourite) with De Forerunner (Ashley Morgan, $4.40) less than a length away third.
Success for local trainers came early with Nasty Streak prepared by Roy McCabe winning the opening event, the 1100 metres Elders Emms Mooney Country Boosted Maiden Plate. Well ridden by Bathurst based Ashleigh Stanley, Nasty Streak ($3.50) came down the outside with a late run to beat Conversations (Jake Pracey-Holmes, $5.50) and Baby Daisy (Pierre Boudvillain, $4.80) in a three-way photo finish. Talented apprentice Will Stanley, the brother of Ashleigh Stanley, later won the 1100 metres JB Civil Contracting-Bill Aspros Cup on Lady Shenanigans for Hawkesbury trainers Mitchell and Desiree Kearney. Burdened with 64.5kg, Lady Shenanigans ($7.50 to $11) was very courageous when coming from fourth on the home turn to wear down Arithamea (Olivia Chambers, $14 to $9) and Lohnraki (Courtney Ferris, $3.90).
Warwick Farm trainer Bjorn Baker has an enviable record at Bathurst and it was yet another double when O’Ziggy (Ashley Morgan, $1.75 to $1.60 favourite) led throughout to win the 1800 metres Kennards Hire Class One and Maiden Plate by over six lengths and debut maker Perfumist (Ashley Morgan, $1.60 favourite) came from well back to win the 1100 metres Central West Electrical Gold Nugget Two-Year-Old Handicap. The other winners on the day were Forbidden Gemstone (Teaghan Martin, $5) trained at Canberra by Garry Kirkup, and Drunken Sailor (Mathew Cahill, $8.50) trained at Hawkesbury by James Ponsonby.
By Colin Hodges
