At her first visit to the track, Orange based trainer Melissa Harrison on Saturday (August 31) took home the Inland Petroleum-Gulargambone Cup won in front of a big crowd by Bobby’s Secret.
Starting a $26 outsider, Bobby’s Secret had Dubbo jockey Ken Dunbar in the saddle and settled further back than centre field in the 1200 metres feature race.
My Oddette ($17) ridden by Jake Pracey-Holmes, led the 11 horse field until overhauled and beaten a short neck by Bobby’s Secret with Celtic Harp (Patrick Scorse, $15) less than a length away in third place.
Melissa Harrison had been a trainer at Kembla since 2001 before moving last year to Orange where her teenage daughter Kyla rides most of the track work for the stable.
Greg Hook was fondly remembered when the 10-year-old gelding Blue Collar Boy won the 1450 metres Halcroft and Bennett Benchmark 45 Handicap at Gulargambone.
A long time trainer at Rylstone, the very well-liked Greg Hook lost his life in a track work accident in September 2023.
Winner of six races when trained by Greg Hook, Blue Collar Boy is now trained for Greg’s family by Brett Thompson at Gulgong.
First leg of a double for Ken Dunbar, Blue Collar Boy ($14) after hitting the lead from fifth on the home turn lasted to win by a half head from Gulf Of Gabes (Jake Pracey-Holmes, $5) with Chookster (Siena Grima, $9) a close third.
Bookmakers were off to a good start when $21 outsider Ready Made Doll won the opening event, the 1800 metres Gilgandra Toyota Benchmark 50 Handicap.
Ridden by apprentice Jessica Brookes for Narromine trainer Kylie Kennedy, Ready Made Doll from off the pace ran down last start Cobar Picnic Cup winner Dancing In The Sky (Nyssa Burrells, $8) to score by threequarters of a length while Jin Chi Phantom (Will Stanley, $6) was a similar distance away in third spot.
Heavy support in the betting ring for Quiet Approach ($3 to $1.80 favourite) failed to bear fruit when the Scone trained galloper missed a place in the 1100 metres AJF Brien and Sons and Gatsby Pastoral Maiden Handicap.
Trained at Dubbo by Brett Robb, La Magia (Georgina McDonnell, $3.20) led most of the way to beat Montido (Will Stanley, $15) and Calmundi (Jessica Brookes, $6).
A well backed runner to put some cash the way of punters was the Cody Morgan, Tamworth-trained Just Easy in the 1450 metres Bowling Club and Caravan Park Maiden Plate.
Just Easy (Shannen Llewellyn, $2.50 to $1.90 favourite) raced outside the leader Firefinch and then held off Dashing Vision (Lauren Van Tijn, $12) by a head with over a length to Firefinch (Georgina McDonnell, $3).
With his first starter for over two years, Dubbo trainer Peter Reynolds won the 1200 metres AMPS Agribusiness Class 1 Handicap with Loud.
Parnassus led from Bullawa Creek before the chasing pack fought out a hectic finish in the straight.
Loud (Will Stanley, $8) won by a short half head from the fast finishing Never Never Land (Patrick Scorse, $3.50 favourite) with a half-length to the third placed Nevada Showgirl (Georgina McDonnell, $17).
