By Col Hodges

Racing aficionados have been scouring the record books since Sunday when Anna Roper rode Scorched Land to victory for Newcastle trainer Todd Howlett in the $75,000 Coonabarabran Bowling Club -Coonabarabran Showcase Cup.

A fortnight earlier Anna Roper had won the Coonamble Cup on the Bjorn Baker, Warwick Farm trained Hollywood Hero and the quest is on to discover if an apprentice jockey has previously won the Cups double, Coonamble and Coonabarabran, in the same year.

Adding further lustre to the 21 year old riders achievements is the fact she rode the winners of the final 3 races (6, 7, 8) at Coonamble and the winners of races 5, 7, 8) at Coonabarabran.

The treble at Coonabarabran took the career tally for Anna Roper to 81 and she can no longer claim an apprentices allowance on country tracks.

Resuming race riding in July after an 8 months absence due to serious injury, Anna Roper has been in sensational form and the wins at Coonabarabran on Scarzel, Scorched Land and Dirty Merchant were the result of outstanding rides.

PHOTO: Filly on the Field Winner- Local Miss Jess Skinner, Mendooran (Image- Coonabarabran Jockey Club Facebook)

Watch Me Rumble established an early four lengths lead in the 1600 metres Coonabarabran Cup followed by Osman and Torowoto with Scorched Land midfield and the favourite Knife’s Edge near the tail in a strung out field.

Well rated by Jake Pracey-Holmes, Watch Me Rumble ($5) fought on gamely but was beaten two lengths by Scorched Land ($7.50) which chimed in halfway down the straight while Deel Street ( Clayton Gallagher, $14) came from back in the field with an inside run for third.

The other winners for Anna Roper were supplied by Scone trainer Cameron Crockett beginning with Scarzel in the 1100 metres Barrons Tyre $ Mechanical Cup Day Showcase Sprint.

With the lead from the outset, Scarzel ($4.20) prevailed in a three way photo finish over Moetta (Jake Pracey-Holmes, $18) and Ezekiel (Aaron Bullock, $1.85 favourite).

The Cameron Crockett trained Dirty Merchant (Anna Roper, $3.60 equal fav.) in the 1200 metres Brad Edwards Air Conditioning Country Boosted Showcase Class 2 Plate gained a rails run over the closing stages to beat Exonumia (Aaron Bullock, $3.60 equal fav.) and Sisters Pick (Jayden Barrie, $12).

PHOTO: Ray Wann and his family (Image- Coonabarabran Jockey Club)

Making it 4 wins in succession the Brett Robb, Dubbo trained Simply Xtravagant defeated a good field in the $40,000 Futurity Pastoral-Baradine Cup, run as a Showcase Benchmark 66 Handicap over 1400 metres.

Third to the home turn, Simply Xtravagant ($2.90 to $2.45 favourite) was switched around heels by Clayton Gallagher and in a gripping finish lunged on the outside to beat Ringside ( Jake Pracey-Holmes, $17) and Calgary King Aaron Bullock. $3.40).

Clayton Gallagher with very strong rides also won on the debut maker Deion ($6) for Brett Robb and on Foxy Baroness ($3.40) trained by Connie Greig.

The other winners at the Cup meeting which attracted the biggest crowd for several years were Break Over (Jake Pracey-Holmes, $3.20 to $2 favourite) trained by Clint Lundholm and Titled Tycoon (Chelsea Hillier, $3 to $1.80 fav.) trained by Rod Northam.

Racing at Bathurst TAB on Friday, Mudgee on Saturday and Wellington TAB on Monday.