By Col Hodges

When Frank Cleary, the trainer of Golden Slipper winner Catbird, travelled from Queanbeyan with a sole runner, Rustle Of Silk, for the Cowra TAB meeting on Saturday, whispers were that a betting plunge might be in the offing.

Adding to the conjecture was the fact talented but heavyweight jockey, Troy Phillips, who nowadays rides on rare occasions, had made the trip for only one ride, Rustle Of Silk.

Bookmakers were obviously wary, but when their opening market was posted, they were hammered with a string of big wagers on Rustle Of Silk from close supporters of the Frank Cleary stable.

A lightly raced three-year-old filly with three starts in Victoria before coming to Frank Cleary, Rustle OF Silk shared the lead with the Danny Parson's-trained Eenie Gran and Nullaar trained by Forbes' Barry Molloy in the Cowra Rotary Maiden Plate (950 metres).

When Troy Phillips released the brakes, Rustle Of Silk (backed from 2.80 to 2.00 fav) raced to a three length win over Nullaar (Tiffany Jeffries, 5.00) and Eenie Gran (Catherine Markwort, 3.50).

While Cowra trainers didn't land a winner on Saturday, there were plenty of locals cheering for Opoho, winner of the Cowra Subway Benchmark 55 Handicap (1100m).

Jenny Hoy trains Opoho at Queanbeyan, however, was reared at Cowra and rode winners in the area at Picnic meetings.

Ridden by apprentice Jason Devrimal, Opoho (4.40, eq fav) raced in a handy fourth position before getting up to beat Poison Pill (Greg Ryan, 13.00) by a long neck with Dashexpress (Mitchell Korn, 7.00) an impressive third at the first run back from a spell.