Local galloper Dao Sun set a new track record when winning the 1000 metres Mountain View Hotel Tooraweenah Cup, the feature event on Saturday at Gilgandra.
The second leg of a double for trainer Kieren Hazelton, Dao Sun carried the green and white Bowman Racing colours and is part-owned by Jason Tate the president of the Gilgandra Jockey Club.
Since a serious injury sidelined regular jockey James Rogers, the Dubbo based Wendy Peel more recently has been travelling to Gilgandra to ride trackwork for Kieren Hazelton and she was rewarded with the ride on Dao Sun.
Straight to the early lead, Dao Sun ($5.50) cleared out in the straight and won by over three lengths from stablemate Dancelittlesister (Jake Pracey-Holmes, $6) and Specula (Siena Grima, $3 favourite).
Earlier, the Kieren Hazelton trained Artell owned by John Smith, a life member of Gilgandra Jockey Club, had overcome difficulties to win the 1280 metres Community Bank Maiden Plate.
Trapped behind the leading pack at the top of the short straight, Artell $3.70) under the guidance of Jake Pracey-Homes eventually worked clear and flew home to beat Rebel Flyer (Shayleigh Ingelse, $3.10 to $2.80 favourite) by a short half head with a neck to the third placed Ransom’s Girl (Zoe Hunt, $8).
Parkes trainer Sharon Jeffries and leading apprentice Shayleigh Ingelse missed out in the photo finish with Rebel Flyer however they had earlier combined to win the 1000 metres Bek’s Bookkeeping Maiden Handicap with Zillions.
Leading throughout, Zillions ($3.20 to $2.90 favourite) had over a length to spare at the end from Lee Haitch Oh (Jake Pracey-Holmes, $4) and the strong finishing Dusty Vermeer (Kacie Adams, $71)
This was the first win in 37 starts for Zillions however the six-year-old gelding has only more recently been trained by Sharon Jeffries.
Looking for a more suitable distance, Narromine trainer Troy McCarney took on higher grade horses with his Maiden Class seven year old gelding Moculta Warrior, surprise winner of the 1550 metres Tooraweenah Prime Livestock Marketing Co-Op Benchmark 50 Handicap.
Well ridden by Kacie Adams, Moculta Warrior ($21), winless after 34 previous starts, came from last with a strong finish to win by a half head from Hoorini (Dylan Stanley, $5.50) while Beg Me (Wendy Peel, $10) was a length away third.
Dubbo jockey Ken Dunbar took full advantage of an inside barrier to give the Ross Lomax, Mudgee trained Desirous ($3.30 favourite) a nice run on the rails before breaking clear to account for Charge Away (Shayleigh Ingelse, $6) and the early leader Mihrimah (Jake Pracey-Holmes, $7) in the 800 metres Rohr’s Timber and Hardare Class One Handicap.
A good ride also by apprentice Siena Grima on the Michael Mulholland, Dubbo trained Tavanasia ($6.50) which raced close to the lead before winning the 1280 metres Freck’s Electrical & Solar-Benchmark 50 Handicap from South Bullaway (Zoe Hunt, $5) and Kiss The Outcast (Ken Dunbar, $9).
