Dubbo trainer Connie Greig and Muswellbrook based rider Leandro Ribeiro continued their dominance on the circuit when combining on Saturday to win the 1400 metres Lane Cove Legends/Doug Allen Memorial Picnic Cup with Valadyium.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Frau Holle and Namarari led the Cup field to the halfway point where Celtic Harp ($2.20 favourite) moved up wide to attack.
Meanwhile, Ribeiro was biding his time and when given more rein in the straight Valadyium ($3.50) cruised to the front and won by over a length from the strong finishing Bush Warrior (Sebastian Galea, $6) with California August (Madison Wright, $2.80) burdened with a massive 78kg, a brave third.
The first leg of a double for Connie Greig and Leandro Ribeiro was Better Judgement ($5.50) which led throughout from the outside barrier to defeat Alaskan Aura (Zara Lewis, $9) and Luscious (Madison Wright, $2.80) by over 4 lengths in the 1000 metres CL Commodities Grenfell Picnic Bracelet.
The biggest fields at a picnic meeting for several years saw emergencies declared in some races, including the 1200 metres Terry Bros Furniture & Bedding Class 2 Trophy Handicap won by the Ashley Gibson, Gilgandra trained Foxstorm.
In an exciting finish, Foxstorm (Zara Lewis, $8) came from well back to score by a short half head from Pahang (Dylan Parrott, $4.40) with a nose to the third placed Far Too Hot (Madison Wright, $3 equal fav.).
Madison Wright had earlier brought the Neil Osborne, Canberra trained debut maker Ima Dubawi ($2.50 fav.) from midfield to win the 1000 metres Mawhood's IGA Maiden Plate from Jet Missile (Dylan Parrott, $3) and Red Card Rosie (Ricky Blewitt, $4).
From the Moruya stables of Natalie Jarvis, Champ Profond ($2 favourite) was taken straight to the front by Madison Wright and romped home over 8 lengths ahead of The Drafter (Ricky Blewitt, $3.60) and Gifted Curves, Sebastian Galea, $6) in the 1400 metres McAlister Motors Class B Handicap.
The innovative Grenfell Club staged the longest distance Picnic race in NSW and the 2150 metres O'Connors/Case IH Presidents Class 1 Trophy Cup Trophy Handicap resulted in an enthralling contest.
Turning for home, Mayapple took a narrow lead from Ready For Lift Off, Radiant Glow and Sham with Thetis making a move from last position.
Over the final 300 metres Mayapple (Leandro Ribeiro, $1.80 fav.) and Thetis (Izzy Neale, $8) matched strides with Thetis eventually winning by a head while over five lengths away third was Radiant Glow (Zara Lewis, $3.80).
Thetis which won it's first race after 40 starts, is trained at Forbes by Peter Kirby who also trained the half brother Hayne Plane to win 5 races, mainly over long distances.
Grenfell attracted a very good crowd and the unique array of prizes and bonuses was much appreciated by the owners, trainers and jockeys.
