Sport
21 February, 2026
Austin collects winning double at Orange
Divine Sinner makes for a sweet trip home for Gilgandra trainer Hazelton after Orange victory.
Raced at Orange on Saturday, February 14, 2026
Jarrod Austin has established a good record at Towac Park and the Warwick Farm trainer continued his success with a winning double, Mystic Air and Jewel County, before a very good crowd on Saturday at Orange.
Debut maker Mystic Air (Mathew Cahill, $3.50 to $3.20) travelled behind the pacemakers before racing to a convincing win from Kingdom Heart (Jake Pracey-Holmes, $2.90 favourite) and Long Time Lovers (Izzy Neale, $4.40) in the 1000 metres Shedboss Maiden Plate.
Mathew Cahill also combined with Jarrod Austin in the 1300 metres Buckley’s Carpet Court Maiden Handicap and it was the usual polished display from the Cowra jockey when he parked Jewel County ($1.75 favourite) close to the leading pair before going on to win from Sudden Strike (Ella Drew, $2.90) and Murisc (Izzy Neale, $13). Taking a chunk of the the winning prizemoney out west was Gilgandra trainer Kieren Hazelton when Divine Sinner won the 1280 metres Orange Vet Hospital Benchmark 50 Handicap. Given a nice run behind the leaders by Dubbo based apprentice Izzy Neale, Divine Sinner ($3 to $2.35 favourite) finished best to beat Rangatira (Nick Hyde, $7.50) and Adviser (Ryan Bradley, $6).
Warwick Farm trainers have now become regular visitors to Orange.
Joining Jarrod Austin in the winners’ circle on Saturday were Gary Portelli with Itszarbaby (Mikayla Weir, $3.20 to $2.60 equal favourite) in the 1000 metres Angullong Wines Benchmark 50 Handicap and David Phieffer with Astrogazer (Kody Nestor,$3.90) in the 1600 metres Parkview Hotel Class One and Maiden Plate.
Making it seven wins and 11 placings from 43 starts, the Becky Byrne, Canberra-trained Rager (Damon Budler, $3.20) hit the lead in the straight in the 1400 metres Pirtek Benchmark 50 Handicap and won by more than a length from the strong finishing Special Prophet (Dale Cole, $3.20 to $2.80 favourite) and the frontrunner Toongi Bound (Ryan Bradley, $7).