Sport
24 March, 2025
Western Racing Report - Coonamble, March 16
Raced at Coonamble, Sunday, March 16
With a touch of arrogance, Gallant Star disposed of the opposition in the $150,000 Evergreen Turf-Western Racing Association Country Cham-pionship Qualifier on Sunday at Coonamble and is now an outstanding winning prospect for the $1 million Final on Saturday, April 5, 2025 at Royal Randwick.
The big crowd at Coonamble had been privileged to witness one of the best wins on a central west track for many years on Sunday.
Trained at Dubbo by Brett Robb, for David Ringland and former test cricketer Kerry O’Keefe, Gallant Star at the first start for four months since winning the Barn Dance at Randwick, was surprisingly taken to the early lead by high profile Sydney jockey Jason Collett.
In front turning for home, Gallant Star ($1.33 to $1.18 favourite) powered away to win by over four lengths from Rouge Moulin (Clayton Gallagher, $7.50) and Poisen Point (Zac Lloyd, $15) to give Brett Robb the trifecta.
Fourth was the Clint Lundholm trained Plenitude while finishing fifth in the 13 horse field was the other Brett Robb trained starter Deion.
Rouge Moulin which chased hard from back in the pack has qualified for the final while the three-year-old filly Poisen Point ran home strongly and looks to have a good future over longer distances than the 1400 metres of the qualifier.
In supporting races, Kody Nestor was the star jockey with a winning treble, Tainui, Yiye and The Great Armada.
After a nice run behind the leader, the Geoff O’Brien, Quirindi-trained Tainui ($1.90 to $1.70 favourite) breezed home as a three lengths winner of the opening event, the 1400 metres Gilgandra Toyota /Inland Petroleum Showcase Maien Plate. First up for Dubbo trainer Clint Lundholm, after racing from Queensland stables, Tiye was quite impressive when winning the 1100 metres Super Maiden Plate.
Challenged in the straight, Tiye ($3.20 favourite) accelerated under Kody Nestor to draw away from Supreme Style (Clayton Gallagher, $3.70) and Stern Reminder (Zac Lloyd, $3.60).
Third leg of the Kody Nestor treble was the Jane Clement, Armidale-trained The Great Armada ($15) which pounced on the leaders in the straight and won by over two lengths from The Artefact (Chad Lever, $4.40) and Crown Legend (Aaron Bullock, $2.20 fav.) in the 1400 metres Benchmark 58 Handicap.
Following successive wins in the picnic cups at Bedgerabong, Condobolin, and Tottenham, the Connie Greig-trained Laisvas, tackled TAB company in the 1600 metres Benchmark 66 Handicap.
Carrying 55kg at Coonamble as compared to 72.5kg at Tottenham, Laisvas (Mikayla Weir, $14) with an inside run from midfield prevailed by a half neck over stablemate Mrs Bull (Andrew Banks, $14) with Rolled Gold (Siena Grima, $26) in third place.
Wayne Lunn, the owner, praised Emma Ly when the apprentice took a rails run from back in the field on the Michael Lunn, Dubbo-trained Rich Street ($8.50) to win the 1600 metres WRA Roundup Class One and Maiden Plate from Miss Clamorosa (Michael Heagney, $1.75 fav.) and Trumpty Dumpty (Aaron Bullock, $7.50).
The other winners were the Jane Clement trained Prince Of Sepang (Gabrielle Johnston, $3.70) and Enterprise Legend (Siena Grima, $4.20 to $3.70 fav.) trained at Tamworth by Holly Williams.
