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By Colin Hodges

After the meeting was washed out in 2025, a record-breaking crowd from around Australia was at Louth in western NSW on Saturday to see Macleay win the 2000m Nutrien Walsh Hughes-Louth Cup.

Toulon Factor led the nine-horse Cup field from Star Intrigue with the Jane Clement, Mendooran-trained 9yo gelding Macleay, well ridden by Billy Cray, settling midfield.

Star Intrigue ($8) trained and ridden by dual licence holder Wendy Peel, after having a good run hit the front approaching the home turn before Macleay ($4.80) took control and raced away to win by seven lengths with The Bentley (Mikayla Weir) making up ground for third.

Winning jockey Billy Cray proudly holds up the 2026 Louth Cup after winning on Macleay. Image by Janian McMillan (Racing Photography)

A flood of money saw The Bentley firm to $3 favourite and was probably the most heavily backed horse all day while some of the 21 bookmakers fielding on course at Louth reported very good support for Macleay.

Leading country jockeys Jake Pracey-Holmes and Mikayla Weir rode winning doubles as did apprentice Hollie Hull at the non-TAB meeting, while Dubbo trainer Connie Greig led in a winning treble.

Garry Bignell, a former long time trainer in the western area of NSW who is now based at Charleville Qld, landed a winning double with Won For Vicki and Kijivu.

Won For Vicki (Jake Pracey-Holmes, $2 fav) led throughout to win the 1000m Bourke Steel & Hire Class 1 Handicap by over two lengths while Kijivu (Jake Pracey-Holmes, $2.40) led for home and lasted to beat another Qld horse Sheriff’s Star (Zoe Hunt, $3) by a half head.

Artspace (Liam Blanch, $2 fav) finished well for third in the 1400m Shindy’s Inn Class 2 Handicap.

First of the Connie Greig-trained treble was the appropriately named Daisy Duck (from the mare Quackquack) with Hollie Hull in the saddle and starting at $3.20, led throughout in the Port Of Bourke Hotel Maiden Plate.

The 9yo mare Blackhill Kitty has been a stable stalwart for Connie Greig and advanced her record to 12 wins and 25 placings from 85 starts when winning at Louth.

Nicely positioned travelling fifth by Mikayla Weir in the 1200m Arrowfield Stud Benchmark 50 Handicap, Blackhill Kitty ($5.50), won by a length from Cool Space (Liam Blanch, $5) which flashed home from a long last to get second by a short head from Dreyfus (Jake Pracey-Holmes, $8).

Mikayla Weir then gave the Connie Greig-trained Hot Miss ($1.50 to $1.60 fav) a cosy run behind the leading pair Encampment (Jess Del Frari, $2.30) and Sunset Drive (Leanne Boyd, $3) when winning the 1400m Rices Back O' Bourke Cordials Splashe Cola Maiden Handicap.

Wrapping up an extremely well organised meeting boasting great facilities at a small village in a remote location, the Kylie Kennedy, Narromine-trained last start Gilgandra TAB winner Himeros backed up a week later at Louth.

Starting the $3 favourite with Hollie Hull the rider, Himeros, owned by Warwick Harper, tracked the leader The Terminator then cleared out to win by nearly six lengths from Qld galloper Edwards (Zoe Hunt, $7).

Third placegetter was Minister Garrett (Billy Cray, $5) in the 1700m Sullivans Mining & Industrial-Great Western Hotel Cobar Benchmark 50 Handicap.

Racing is at Wellington on Thursday, Bathurst next Monday, Cobar Picnics (Saturday August 23) and Narromine on Sunday August 24.