24 September 2023, 4:42 AM
By Col Hodges
Over recent years Dubbo trainer Connie Greig has collected a swag of Cobar Cups and on Saturday she took home the feature race trophy won by Inzaghi.
This time it was at the Picnic meeting transferred from Come-By-Chance north east of Cobar.
With leading jockey Leandro Ribeiro in the saddle, Inzaghi ($1.60 favourite) raced outside the leader Merdeka (Grady Spokes, $2.50) before getting the better of the stablemate to win the Cup by over three lengths with the Wayne Prisk, Cobar trained Borlotti (Zara Lewis, $3.50) finishing third.
Connie Greig won 3 of the 6 races, her other winners being Have Mercy (Grady Spokes, $2.60) in the 1000 metres Class 3 Trophy and Benyatta (Leandro Ribeiro, $2.20)) which beat stablemate Belle ‘O Ballee (Grady Spokes, $1.90 favourite) and Bush Warrior (Sebastian Galea, $4.40) in the 1000 metres Open Picnic Sprint.
Nyngan trainer Rodney Robb and Leandro Ribeiro kicked off the day with an all the way win by Hammoon Sunshine ($2) over I Told Rubick (Zara Lewis, $6) and Galleries Supreme (Grady Spokes, $4) in the 1000 metres Maiden Plate.
Emily Harrison (22) a trackwork rider for trainer Tim Donnelly at Wagga Wagga, had the thrill of riding her career first winner when the Debbie Prest, Canowindra trained Sham ($4) led throughout to win the 1200 metres Class B Handicap from Spicy Menu (Zara Lewis, $2.60) and Hussniacki (Leandro Ribeiro, $1.50 fav.).
Well ridden by Sebastian Galea in the 1370 metres Class B Handicap, the Richard Jackson, Walgett trained The Drafter ($1.80 fav.) tracked the leader before racing clear from Sun Master (Zara Lewis, $2) and Watermelon Wine (Emily Harrison, $4.40).
The Gilgandra owned and trained Turgenev following wins at Mendooran and Dubbo made it a treble when taking out the 1600 metres Manilla Cup last Saturday at Gunnedah.
From the Kieren Hazelton stable (Clayton Gallagher, $2.30 favourite) came from near last with a powerful run to win by over two lengths from the leader Torowoto (Mikayla Weir, $2.90) and Annie’s Street (Cobi Vitler, $10).
Racing at Dubbo TAB (Friday), Lockhart Picnics (Friday) Mudgee (Saturday) and Mungery Picnics (Sunday).