General News
3 May, 2025
Good crowds for ANZAC Day Races
Raced in Forbes and ANZAC Day races in Nyngan and Bathurst.
Raced - Nyngan, ANZAC Day
Renowned for being one of the hardest workers for central west stables, Dubbo-based jockey Wendy Peel was justly rewarded when riding four winners on ANZAC Day at Nyngan. Her haul included the 1400 metres Nyngan RSL ANZAC Cup on the Michael Mulholland-trained Foxwell.
Trained at Dubbo by Mulholland for Kel Turner, Foxwell ($3) set a new track record when leading throughout to win by over three lengths from the Nikki Pollock, trained stablemates Pacific Warrior (Andrew Banks, $10) and Hit Song (Billy Cray, $5).
More recently, Wendy Peel has been travelling to Gilgandra to ride trackwork for Kieren Hazelton and she combined with the popular trainer to land a double with Spotted and Dao Sun.
After three unplaced runs in Victoria, Spotted was purchased by John Smith from Gilgandra and was first up for Kieren Hazelton at Nyngan.
Leading from the outset, Spotted ($1.70 favourite) cruised home over three lengths clear of Too Casual (Billy Cray, $4.20) and The Hoff (Zoe Hunt, $3.50) in the 900 metres Nyngan Toyota-Neill Earthmoving-Max Smith Memorial Maiden Plate.
Dao Sun ($2.10) after being headed in the straight by Mihrimah fought back to win by a short half head from the fast finishing Shades Of Truth (Billy Cray,$17) with Mihrimah (Andrew Banks, $2.80) a close third in the 900 metres Luke Smith Plumbing and Josh Lister Building Benchmark 58 Handicap.
Dubbo trainer Connie Greig provided the other winner for Wendy Peel, Chookster in the 1200 metres Inland Petroleum Benchmark 45 Handicap. Rewarding Belle (Andrew Banks, $6) led by several lengths turning for home but was run down and beaten nearly two lengths by Chookster ($3.50) while Via Amorosa (Billy Cray, $3.50) finished third.
The five-year-old grey mare Star Stroke has now won three races for Coonamble trainer Stuart Canham, the latest being the 1100 metres Nyngan Bowling Club Class One Handicap. Parked behind the leading trio, Star Stroke (Georgina McDonnell, $4.80) finished well for a convincing win from Warrior’s Spirit (Angela Cooper, $7) and A Tender Lady (Nyssa Burrells, $13).
Many punters amongst the big crowd at Nyngan were happy to see the favourite win the final event, the 1400 metres Kevin Miller Whitty Lennon and Co-Ray Barrow Memorial Maiden Plate.
The Nikki Pollock, Scone-trained Il Tevere (Billy Cray, $1.80 favourite) overhauled Outcast Soldier (Angela Cooper, $5) to score by three quarters of a length with five lengths to the third placed Broadway Spirit (Zoe Hunt, $13).
Raced - Bathurst, ANZAC Day
A long held ambition for Dean Mirfin was realised when the local trainer won the 1400 metres Bathurst RSL Club Soldiers Saddle on ANZAC Day with the promising young galloper Just A Good Fellow. At the trophy presentation, Mirfin told the very big crowd he had achieved placings in the past and was thrilled to finally win the flagship event.
Overall it was a memorable day for the long time successful trainer as he landed a treble, his other winners being Tom Vegas and Giovanni Star, both at big odds.
The three-year-old gelding Jolly Good Fellow came to Dean Mirfin from Sydney stables as a Maiden class performer but with good reports from the owners.
First up for Mirfin, Jolly Good Fellow won at Orange however, was facing a significant challenge when taking on much more experienced and better performed class four horses at Bathurst. With a skilful ride by Mikayla Weir, Jolly Good Fellow ($7) was impressive when leading throughout to win by over a length from the strong finishing Acheson (Rebecca Bronett, $13) and Florino (Donovan Dillon, $3.70).
Springing an upset, the Dean Mirfin-trained debut maker Tom Vegas at $51 and with Donovan Dillon in the saddle, gained an inside side run halfway down the straight to sprint home nearly two lengths clear of Gilette (Chad Lever, $3.60 to $2.90 favourite) and So Rebellious (Clayton Gallagher, $17) in the 1100 metres The Grind-Gold Nugget Two Year Old Handicap.
Completing the Dean Mirfin treble, Giovanni Star (Donovan Dillon, $21) was close to the lead in the 1200 metres Town and Country Rural Supplies Class One Handicap before finishing best to beat His Honour (Pierre Boudvillain, $13) and Wasted Days (Shayleigh Ingelse, $15).
Bathurst stables were off to a bright start when youthful trainer Angus Stewart won the 1100 metres Kennards Hire Maiden Plate with his three-year-old chestnut filly Joy Of The World.
Formerly from South Africa, jockey Donovan Dillon landed the first leg of a treble when Joy Of The World ($1.70 favourite) led for home then cleared out to win by almost six lengths from Carrick (Clayton Gallagher, $4.80) and Polens (Glenn Cahill, $21).
A field of smart sprinters contested the 1100 metres Lion Nathan-Bill Aspros Cup and it was the Mark Jones, Mudgee-trained Life’s A Party (Grant Buckley, $4) overhauling Outback Angel (John Kissick,$3.20 to $2.90 favourite) and Castlebar Road (Jordan Quince, $10) for the win.
Raced - Forbes, Saturday, April 26
Forbes trainer Barry Molloy who celebrated his 87th birthday during the week had a win with Swilken Bridge on Saturday, April 26 at the Cootamundra Picnics.
Last on the home turn, Swilken Bridge ($5) was steered through an opening on the rails by Emily Waters to win the 800 metres Twin Hills Stud Trophy Handicap in a close finish from Insane Volt (Michael Wade, $2.80) and Artieos (Dylan Parrott, $1.80 favourite). During his long and successful career, Barry Molloy has trained many outstanding gallopers including Lake Lugarno, the dam of Swilken Bridge.
Awarded a Central Districts Horse Of The Year title, Lake Lugarno won nine races and was placed nine times from 21 starts with significant wins including the Wellington Town Plate and Orange Cup Day Sprint while the mare won at Canterbury and was also placed on Sydney tracks.
Sadly, Lake Lugarno died after having her only foal, Swilken Bridge.
An incredible feat achieved by Barry Molloy is not ever having a horse beaten at Hawkesbury
Spaced over several years five individual horses trained by Barry Molloy have won at their only start at a Hawkesbury meeting including Royal Treatment which landed a massive betting plunge when ridden by the late Norm Munsie.
Over several generations of the extended Molloy family there have been many outstanding jockeys and trainers including the brother of Barry Molloy, the late Harold “Matey” Molloy the champion country jockey who won the 1964 Doncaster Handicap at Randwick on the grey gelding Persian Puzzle.
Matey Molloy went with trainer Stan Hayden and the owner Mr F C Mendham from Orange to take on the city slickers in the famous race over the Randwick mile and it was a brilliant ride by Molloy to land the big prize.
Near last turning for home in the big field, Matey Molloy found rails runs to dash Persian Puzzle (9/1) to victory by over a length from the Queensland trained Papilio, Florida Keys and Ripa.
Among the unplaced runners were the champion gallopers Time And Tide and Wenona Girl.
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