Sport
7 August, 2026
Johnston and Castlebar Road won the Three Rivers Machinery 2026 Collie Cup
Western Racing Report with Colin Hodges
Gilgandra - raced Saturday, August 1, 2026
Resilient galloper Castlebar Road added another feature race to the record when winning the 1280 metres Three Rivers Machinery Collie Cup before a very good crowd on Saturday, August 1 at Gilgandra.
Owned by Harry Barclay from Warren and trained at Mendooran by Jane Clement, the 10-year-old gelding Castlebar Road ($$4.20) was taken straight to the lead by the in form apprentice Gabrielle Johnston and in the final stages held off by a head Shaggy Rogers (Jake Pracey-Holmes, $8) with Delrico (Heavalon Van Der Hoven, $11) a half length away third.
Castlebar Road has now won nine races and been placed 10 times with the previous win to Gilgandra being the Cannonball at Warren in mid-June. Landing some good bets for supporters was the Peter Reynolds, Dubbo-trained Loud in the 1100 metres Hair and Beauty and Keith Kilby Memorial Benchmark 50 Handicap.
Backed from $7 to $4.60, Loud (Heavalon Van Der Hoven) took the lead from Notabadchassis and fought on well to beat Roman Miss (Clayton Gallagher, $6.50) and Powderfinger (Nick Palmer, $14). A winner at Come-By-Chance Picnics last campaign, the Joe Hodgson, Coonamble-trained Ilikesooboogie (Leanne Boyd, $18) resuming from a spell, led for home and staved off Beaunified (Jake Pracey-Holmes, $8) and Angie’s Sister (Jasmine Urqahart-Warren, $1.50 in a close finish to the 800 metres Western Farm Machinery - B and C Coxsedge Memorial Benchmark 50 Handicap. After a previous washout, the 1600 metres Mountain View Hotel-Tooraweenah Cup was run on Saturday and Himeros (Juliet Partridge, $5) trained at Narromine by Kylie Kennedy for Warwick Harper, led and in a close finish won from Snow Dog (Hollie Hull, $11) and Wayne To Divine (Jasmine Urquhart-Warren, $13).
Even closer was the finish to the 1100 metres Gilgandra Toyota - Jockeys Celebration Day BM 50 Handicap when the Dean Mirfin, Bathurst-trained Lady Giovanna, $3.20 favourite) lasted to beat the fast finishing Rivaldo (Juliet Partridge, $7.50) by a nose with Tesorino (Jake Pracey-Holmes, $5) a short half head away third.
From the John Bannister stable at Muswellbrook, Poised (Jasmine Urquhart-Warren, $2.25) tracked the leaders then finished best for a half length win over Mega Pixel (Gabrielle Johnston, $2.10 to $1.80 favourite) and Summer Sonata (Liam Blanch, $51) in the Chandler Chaff and M and M Brophy Memorial Maiden Handicap.
Bathurst - raced on Tuesday, July 28, 2026
Currently recovering in hospital from serious illness, Patrick Murphy, a former talented jockey, who is now a successful trainer at Goulburn, landed a winning double on Tuesday, July 28 at Bathurst with Let Up and Rileycat.
The punter who had a bet on course of $4000 to $400 (each way) was probably ready to tear up the ticket when Rileycat trailed the field rounding the hometurn in the 1100 metres Sheds N Homes Bathurst Benchmark 66 Handicap.
Producing an electrifying burst down the outside over the final 250 metres, Rileycat (Mitchell Bell, $10 to $8) charged past all 10 rivals to win by a short neck from Stormfield (Robyn Freeman, $7) and Gem Tycoon (Winona Costin, $6.50). Earlier, the Murphy-trained debut maker Let Up (Molly Bourke, $3.90) wore down Denise’s Gal (Deanne Panya, $1.70 favourite) to score by almost a length with El Cool Gee (Dale Cole, $41) third in the 1200 metres DRB Contracting Maiden Handicap. Godwits, winner of a restricted class race at Quambone Picnics in May, keeps improving for Dubbo trainer Todd Smith and has since won stayers races up to 2200 metres at TAB meetings at Dubbo and Bathurst.
Again very well ridden by Dubbo jockey Liam Blanch in the 1800 metres Off Road 4 x 4 Bathurst Benchmark 66 Handicap, Godwits ($13) tracked the leader and eventually edged past Italus (Donovan Dillon, $2.70 to $2.40 favourite)to win by a short half head with a length to Devine Outcast (Mitchell Bell, $8.50).
The owners possibly had more lofty ambitions when naming their galloper The Champion however, the three-year-old gelding after three placings from seven starts broke through to win the 1400 metres John Kinghorn OAM Memorial Maiden Plate at Bathurst.
Gold Earth (Winona Costin, $6.50) made a strong challenge on the inside but was beaten a short head by the Gary Portelli, Warwick Farm trained The Champion (Robyn Freeman, $1.85 to $1.75 favourite) with Disgruntled (Olivia Dalton, $17) running on well for third.
The other winners were Mr Cacciatore (Gabrielle Johnston, $2.70) trained at Muswellbrook by Ben Lees, Yes Siree (Winona Costin, $2.70 favourite) trained at Hawkesbury by Claire Lever and the Nick Olive, Canberra-trained Alabama Hussy (Coriah Keatings, $13).