Latest News

By Matt Findlay

Prior to Friday’s Hit 93.5 F&M Maiden Plate at Dubbo, Bathurst trainer Dean Mirfin said his three runners were all “going well”, but even he didn’t expect Jetgirl, Winterconi and Worldy Pleasure to make-up the 1010-metre race’s trifecta.

Jetgirl was a favourite of punters trackside as she was backed from $2.80 into $1.80 on Friday morning and the three-year-old proved why, cruising to a two-length win despite being given no favours in the run after being trapped three-wide before crossing over.

Winterconi ($14) was strong from barrier five and although the mare looked under pressure at times in a wide run, she kicked on well in the straight to surge past Worldly Pleasure ($7) in the final stages.

Dean Mirfin's Jetgirl, pictured running second at Bathurst, claimed her maiden win at Dubbo on Friday. Image by Chris Seabrook

Wordly Pleasure jumped from barrier one and held the rails, maintaining touching distance with the pacesetters. Although she couldn’t keep up with Jetgirl and was overran by Winterconi, she hit the line well to finish third and complete Mirfin’s trifecta.

“It was good,” Mirfin said of the one-two-three finish. “Jetgirl deserved that win, it was a good ride by [Anthony Cavallo], he took advantage of the speed and found a nice spot. I really like Winterconi, she’s probably more of a 1400 or miler though.”

Friday’s win was Jetgirl’s first after a somewhat tumultuous and unlucky preparation after returning from a 15-week spell in early June.

First-up she lost jockey Mathew Cahill 200 metres from the barriers, a fall he remains sidelined from, before running into Gerald Ryan’s Miss Celebration second-up, a filly that’s won all three of her career starts.

Mirfin sent Jetgirl to Hawkesbury after that and while she was far from disgraced, she finished sixth there before finally breaking through on Friday afternoon.