By Colin Hodges.
Guerie Picnics
Runner up to Heza Charmer last year, The Drafter went one better on Saturday when winning the 1600 metres Bernie Wilkin Memorial - Geurie Picnic Cup.
Ridden by 21 year old Tamsin Gough for Narromine trainer Terry Fulwood, The Drafter ($7) made a wide run from near last to win by a half length from Maralago (Arthur Pollock, $4) with the leader Always Fiorente (Ricky Blewitt, $2.20 favourite) less than a length away third.
September is the traditional time for rugby league finals and from 1976 to 1987 Terry Fahey, formerly from Wellington, regularly starred for the Rabbitohs, Roosters and Raiders in the Sydney premierships.
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Wind the clock forward and Terry Fahey, now a trainer at Dubbo, has won races last week at Mendooran with Ternini and on Saturday at Geurie with Great Flame.
Kembla Grange based Paul Zerafa was the rider in the Think Water Out West-Trax Livestock Transport Maiden Plate and Great Flame ($3.60) led throughout to beat Sun Beauty (Leandro Ribeiro, $3) and Perasta (Arthur Pollock, $2.50 favourite).
Paul Zerafa then completed a double when the rank outsider Yet Tobe A Cod won the 1400 metres Elders Dubbo Conditional Picnic Handicap for trainer Debbie Prest.
Finishing well from midfield, Yet Tobe A Cod ($21) won by a neck from Point To Prove (Ashley Boyd, $4) and Mad Harry (Arthur Pollock, $4.50).
There was a big crowd at the picturesque Geurie track to see Shaquila win the opening race , the 1000 metres Pumps & Irrigation Geurie-Carter, Lindsay & McHugh Class 3 Trophy Handicap.
Trained at Dubbo by Clint Lundholm for Kathryn Smith, Shaquila (Ashley Boyd, $2.80 favourite) raced outside the leader then pulled away for an almost 3 lengths win from Beaunified (Leandro Ribeiro, $7) and The Hulkbuster (Zara Lewis, $15).
First up for Gilgandra trainer Ashley Gibson after coming from stables at Tumut, the 5 year old mare Alpine Rose won the 1600 metres Shanahans Livestock Transport Class B Handicap after being well supported in the betting ring.
Tracking the leaders, Alpine Rose (Zara Lewis, $4.80) finished best to win convincingly from the $3.50 equal favourites Rock All Night (Leandro Ribeiro ) and Prefer The Wink (Arthur Pollock).
Racing at Bathurst
Although he has so far only won two races, including the $50,000 Bathurst Cup on Sunday, Nacim Dilmi has the credentials and backing to become a prominent force in the ranks of thoroughbred trainers.
An experienced horseman, the French born Dilmi moved to Australian about 15 years ago and after some early stints with Bart Cummings and Gai Waterhouse began a very successful association with James Cummings who was appointed head trainer in Australia for the renowned Godolphin stable.
After being the foreman, Nacim Dilmi became the assistant trainer for James Cummings at Flemington.
Following the decision by James Cummings to further his career in Hong Kong next year, Nacim Dilmi seized the opportunity to become head trainer for the powerful Domeland organisation and initially has about 50 horses at Wyong.
Recently commencing his new career, Dilmi had his first winner Aix En Provence at Gosford and a fortnight later the five year led gelding backed up to win at Bathurst.
The meeting was well promoted and a very good crowd was trackside to see Rajnish leading from Lockdown Gamble and Bonnie And Bruce in the 1800 metres The Kings Hotel “ Big Dance Eligibility “ Bathurst Cup.
Well ridden by Sydney jockey Andrew Adkins, Aix En Provence ($2.40 favourite) came from midfield with a strong run to beat Rajnish (Ashley Morgan, $3.90) by a half length with Blue Guitar (Grant Buckley, $19 to $14) in third place.
The $110,000 Bathurst Panthers-Panorama over 1300 metres is quickly becoming established as an important race on the country calendar and this year there was a capacity field with several emergencies unable to get a start.
Trained at Goulburn by Matthew Dale and ridden by Ashley Morgan, Ringarosa ($4) from fifth, burst through the pack to claim victory in a close finish from Jolly Good Fellow (Braith Nock, $9), High Blue Sea (Andrew Adkins, $6) and Turned Down (Donovan Dillon, $4.40 to $3.80 favourite).
Dean Mirfin from Bathurst who trains the second and fourth placegetters had earlier won the 1200 metres Agri West-Bill Aspros Cup (BM 58 Showcase Handicap) with Ishikari ridden by Braith Nock.
Producing a sharp sprint, Ishikari ($4.60 to $4.20) swept past the leaders for a convincing win over East Harlem (Molly Bourke, $10) and Slush Fund (Zoe Hunt, $6 to $5.50).
Good runs when placed at Gilgandra and Wellington were followed by a deserved win by Frankie’s Shout in the 1400 metres Elders Livestock-Hugh Bowman Maiden Plate.
From the Janelle Galea stable at Dubbo, Frankie’s Shout (Kath Bell-Pitomac, $3.20 equal favourite) led all the way to account for Polens (Teaghan Martin, $15) and Eye For Style (Olivia Chambers, $3.20 favourite).
Looking a forlorn chance when last and a long way from the leaders at the top of the straight, the Gayna Williams, Bathurst trained Green Pineapple staged a big performance to win the 1200 metres Jeremy Booth Constructions-Rising Prince Showcase Maiden Plate.
Ridden a very cool cool and well judged race by local jockey Ashleigh Stanley, Green Pineapple ($5) stormed down the outside and won running away by over a length from Miss Karis (Grant Buckley, $10) and Glowing Rapids (Zoe Hunt, $5).
The other winners were the Paul and Martha Cave, Warwick Farm trained Devil’s Daughter (Grant Buckley, $4.20) and Wandaye (Brock Ryan, $8) trained at Rosehill by Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou).
Bathurst will next race on Friday 17 October.
Racing at Enngonia on Saturday and Narromine on Monday.
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