Latest News

By Colin Hodges

Queensland raider Al Ash Lad ridden a daring race by Dubbo jockey Georgina McDonnell, won the Westrac Cobar Cup before a very big crowd on Saturday at Cobar.

Trained at Cunnamulla by Monique Gavin, Al Ash Lad was taken straight to the lead in the 1700m Cup by Georgina McDonnell and had established a five-length break well before the home turn.

Appearing vulnerable in the straight, Al Ash Lad ($6) was kept balanced by McDonnell and fought on grimly to win by over two lengths from Il Tevere (Billy Cray, $5) and Pahang (Wendy Peel, $2.60 favourite).

Thundering down the home straight at Cobar. Image by Janian McMillan (Racing Photography)

Scone trainer Nikki Pollock has been bringing strong teams to western area meetings this season and she landed a winning treble at Cobar with Cooma Hut, Joanesski and Hit Song.

Cooma Hut (Billy Cray, $1.80 fav) had good TAB form and after tracking the leaders was a five-length winner of the 1000m Broughton Field Services & Cynend Building Maiden Plate from the Wayne Prisk, Cobar-trained Uncle Alf (Nyssa Burrells, $12) and Tiny Missile (Zoe Hunt, $7).

The in-form Dubbo apprentice Zoe Hunt followed a double at Brewarrina and another winner at Bathurst with two winners, Joanesski and Hit Song for Nikki Pollock at Cobar.

Leading all the way Joanesski ($2.30 fav) lasted to beat Mihrimah (Andrew Banks, $10) by a short half-head with Lost Media (Ken Dunbar, $17) third in the DJW Contracting & Sullivans Mining & Industrial Benchmark 58 Handicap.

In the 1200m Cobar Cranes & Nutrien Russell Ag Solutions Benchmark 50 Handicap, Zoe Hunt and Nikki Pollock completed a good day when Hit Song ($3.20 fav) finished best to beat the leader Loud (Ken Dunbar, $4.40) and Rylstone Rocket (Nyssa Burrells, $15).

Another Dubbo jockey riding with plenty of recent success is Wendy Peel who brought the Connie Greig-trained Blackhill Kitty ($4.40) with a well timed run from midfield to account for Maralago (Zoe Hunt, $6) and Benyatta (Nyssa Burrells, $4.60) in the 1370m BK Civil Group & Pryce Mining Services Benchmaark 45 Handicap.

The winner of three races when taken to King Island over summer by Forbes trainer Bill Hayes, Gypsy King won the 1200m Tyre Doctor and Civil Industries Class 1 Handicap at Cobar.

Promising apprentice Caine Stuart who has transferred to the Brett Robb stable at Dubbo, was in the saddle on Gypsy King ($10) which burst through the pack from last to score by over a length from One Command (Billy Cray, $4.40) and Party Prophet (Ken Dunbar, $4 fav).

The nine bookmakers operating at Cobar reported well above average turnover figures at Cobar which is now highly rated among country clubs with outstanding facilities and meticulous racecourse presentation.

HOOFNOTE: There's a feast of racing this week starting on Friday with Dubbo's TAB meeting featuring the Silver Goblet and Heats of the Winter Country Classic series, followed by Parkes (Coradgery Cup) on Saturday and Gulgong Cup on Sunday.