Sport
29 May, 2026
Winning pair strike again at Cobar
Gabrielle Johnston and Jane Clement teamed up again to add the Cobar Cup to their collection.
Raced at Cobar - Saturday, May 23
Following their Brewarrina Cup win with Toulon Factor last week, apprentice Gabrielle Johnston and Mendooran trainer Jane Clement combined again to win the 1700 metres Westrac Cobar Cup with The Great Armada.
Second turning for home, The Great Armada ($2.70 favourite) wore down Just On Fire (Hollie Hull, $4) to win by a half-length with over six lengths to the third placed Bold Tyrant (Jasmine Urquhart-Warren, $8).
Winner of the $50,000 Picnic Championship Final at Dubbo in 2022, the now 10-year-old Hemsted returned to form when winning the 1370 metres PJL and Civil Benchmark 45 Handicap.
From the Connie Greig stable at Dubbo, Hemsted (Hollie Hull, $8) tracked the leader then finished best to beat last start Brewarrina winner Dodge The Dark (Wendy Peel, $3.50 favourite) and Individualist (Liam Blanch, $6).
Liam Blanch produced a good ride on the former Victorian galloper Honey Slider for Dubbo trainer Janelle Galea in the 1200 metres Nutrien Russell Class One Handicap.
Last early, Honey Slider ($11) moved to fourth approaching the home turn before gaining a rails run to beat Stolen Show (Madeline Owen, $4.40) and Bold Tee (Tilly McCarroll, $8).
Coming off a last start win at Marthaguy Picnics, the Bill Hayes, Forbes-trained Rubicon River (Wendy Peel, $3.50 equal favourite) was an all the way winner over Te Pani (Hollie Hull, $4.20) and Shades Of Truth (Madeline Owen, $8) in the 1000 metres Sullivans Mining and Industrial and DJW/Wells Construction Benchmark 58 Handicap.
A very big crowd was already present for the opening event when jockey Madeline Owen and Scone trainer Nikki Pollock landed the first leg of a double, Apparently in the 1000 metres Broughton Field Services Maiden Plate.
Unplaced on a very heavy track five days earlier at Port Macquarie, Apparently ($2.60 equal favourite) led throughout for an easy win at Cobar from stablemate Quick To Judge (Jasmine Urquhart-Warren, $7) and Infinite Vixen (Zoe Hunt, $2.70 equal favourite).
Part of a winning treble for trainer Nikki Pollock at the 2025 meeting, Hit Song won again this year but with Madeline Owen in the saddle.
Straight to the front, Hit Song ($4) breezed home over six lengths clear of Our Celebrity (Dylan Stanley, $5) and Blackhill Kitty (Hollie Hull, $3.80) in the 1200 metres Cobar Steel Benchmark 50 Handicap.
Memorial trophies for races at the meeting were presented by family and friends of George Booth, Lou Simon, Blackman Family, Vinty Delaney and Dr Allan Brady.