By Colin Hodges
Making yet another comeback after being badly injured, Kath Bell-Pitomac thrilled her many supporters with a brilliant ride to win aboard Andale on Monday at Narromine.
The 42yo mother of two teenagers, who has suffered seemingly career ending injuries on several occasions, had her most recent win over 12 months ago on the Cindy Monaghan, Dubbo-trained Friendly Sizzle at Quirindi.
Dubbo trainer Merv Rumble has always been a staunch supporter of Kath Bell-Pitomac and prepares Andale which was strapped at Narromine by Kath’s husband Daniel Pitomac who retired as a jockey when seriously injured.
Jockey Kath Bell-Pitomac has returned from injury a winner at Narromine. Image by Trackside Photography
Andale, a lightly raced 3yo gelding, drew the outside barrier in a big field contesting the 1300m Narromine USMC Country Boosted Maiden Plate.
Heavily supported from $3.10 to $2.70 favourite, Andale was quickly away under Kath Bell-Pitomac and crossed to the early lead.
Maintaining the tempo, Andale led throughout to score by over two lengths from the fast finishing Major Lightning (Siena Grima, $2.80) and Saint Philomena (Kody Nestor, $10).
Half-brothers Brummagen and Bylong, both bred from the mare Letyahairhangdown owned by Dr Bob and Mrs Jean Slacksmith and trained by Brett Thompson, had widely differing fortunes in the first and penultimate events respectively at Narromine.
In the race named in honour of very successful jockey and trainer Wayne Collison from Narromine, who is retiring, Brummagen (Jake Pracey-Holmes, $4.40 to $3.20) hit the front at the top of the straight in the 800m Wayne Collison Well Earned Spell Maiden Plate and won by over a length from Miss Karis (Clayton Gallagher, $2.60 fav) and the leader Parissident (Kody Nestor, $8.50).
Approaching the final 100m of the 1100m QUBE Agri Benchmark 58 Handicap, Bylong ($5.50) racing in the centre of a packed field unfortunately came down with Clayton Gallagher having a a heavy fall.
The horse galloped off appearing uninjured while Clayton Gallagher was transported to hospital with suspected fractures.
From near last, the Paul Clisby, Dubbo-trained Midnight Dream (Siena Grima, $12) steamed down the outside to beat Champers Girl (Zoe Hunt, $4.80 fav) and Dupenny (Jake Pracey-Holmes, $5.50).
In addition to Paul Clisby and Merv Rumble, other Dubbo trainers with winners were Clint Lundholm (My Boy Scout, Kody Nestor, $5), Brett Robb (West Head, Jordan Quince, $2.10 fav) and Michael Mulholland (Kranich, Chad Lever, $3.40).
The other winner was Super Sioux (Izzy Neale, $4.40) trained by Melissa Dennett at Tamworth.
Narromine will next race with the Gold Cup meeting on Sunday 24th August. Meanwhile, the Dubbo meeting on Sunday features the Final of the Dubbo RSL Club Winter Country Classic.