In his role as a mentor for apprentice riders, former jockey Dale Jeffries will be back on familiar territory when officiating on Friday at the Mudgee Cup meeting.
During his very successful jockey career, Jeffries won the Cup at every track in the central districts including the 1986 Mudgee Cup on Mon Raphael, owned and trained by Ray Bradley from Hawkesbury.
Formerly from Walgett, the late Ray Bradley had been a leading jockey in the western districts before riding with success in Sydney and later becoming a trainer.
Taitolio led the field in the 1850 metres Mudgee Cup however Mon Raphael given a cosy run by the then Bathurst based Dale Jeffries was poised to strike at the top of the straight.
After breaking clear, Mon Raphael lasted to win by a short half head from the fast finishing Handsome Heir (Brian Wood) with Van Dieman Star filling third place.
Another of the three Mudgee Cups won by Dale Jeffries was on the Ross Lomax, Rylstone-trained Talee Man in 1997.
Over the following 10 months Talee Man also won the Orange Cup and Wellington Cup with Dale Jeffries in the saddle.
Usually with only a small team in work, Ross Lomax has produced numerous good winners from his Rylstone stables including at Randwick and recently won with a relative newcomer, Grins, at Narromine.
For many years Dale Jeffries has lived at Parkes and often rides trackwork for his wife, successful trainer Sharon Jeffries.
On the day Mon Raphael won the Mudgee Cup 38 years ago, Dubbo trainer Peter Nestor won the 1200 metres Maiden Handicap with Wingewarra Red owned by John Roser and Greg Roser from Dubbo.
Ridden by top jockey Harry Troy, Wingewarra Red came from off the pace for a six lengths win over Ti Mat and Smooth Flyer.
Peter Nestor continues to be an outstanding trainer and recently won the Dubbo Gold Cup with Sneak Preview and the Newcastle Highway with Blue Guitar while Harry Troy formerly from Walgett spent 27 years in Macau as a jockey, apprentices mentor and race caller.
Another notable achievement at the Mudgee Cup meeting was Apprentice jockey Paul Sylvester riding a winning treble, Tundra Star, Aleetun and Nebo Park.
Prizemoney for the 1986 Mudgee Cup was $5,000 while the 2024 Big Dance Eligibility-Mudgee Cup is worth $75,000.
