By COLIN HODGES

Purchased in 2020 for $600, the now 7 year old mare Not Negotiating took prizemoney earnings to over $150,000 when winning the feature race on Friday at Warren. 

Trained at Wellington by Peter.W.Stanley, Not Negotiating had Peter’s daughter the Bathurst based apprentice Ashleigh Stanley in the saddle when beating a classy field in the 1400 metres Nutrien Ag Solutions Benchmark 74 Handicap. 

Ashleigh Stanley produced an outstanding ride as Not Negotiating was near last turning for home where Larynx, The Long Run and Great Buy were the leaders. 

Pushed through narrow openings on the rails by Stanley, Not Negotiating ($10) hit the lead close to home to win by almost a length from Praline (Tony Cavallo, $4.40) and Larynx (Clayton Gallagher, $3.40 favourite). 

Off the scene for two and a half years, the 8 year old gelding Listen To The Band made a brilliant return to racing when a runaway winner of the 1000 metres Western Farm Machinery Maiden Handicap at Warren. 

At the initial three starts in 2020, Listen To The Band had run second at Wellington and Bathurst and fifth at Mudgee. 



PHOTO: Warren Jockey Club facebook

Now trained at Dubbo by Clint Lundholm, Listen To The Band had been set for a first up win at Warren and was backed from $6.50 to $3 favourite. 

Sent straight to the lead by Jake Pracey-Holmes, Listen To The Band breezed home five lengths clear of Acey (Chelsea Hillier,$8.50) and Lockdown Lad (Kacie Adams,$81). 

Bred by the late Jack Cover from Mudgee, Listen To The Band is part owned by his son John Cover who worked for the late Guy Walter the trainer of numerous champion gallopers. 

“ I am proud to to have the pale pink and yellow striped colours used by by some of the Guy Walter family”, revealed John Cover. 

Completing a double for Clint Lundholm and Jake Pracey-Pracey Holmes, Lady Lucilla ($9) led throughout when beating Zachariah (Will Stanley, $8) and the fast finishing Stone (Tony Cavallo, $21) in the 1200 metres Business DNA Class 1 Handicap. 

Talented apprentice Shayleigh Ingelse who recently transferred from the Kris Lees stable at Newcastle to Brett Thompson at Gulgong was quickly off the mark for her new boss when winning the 1200 metres Gold Acres & Sprayer Barn Maiden Plate on Jade Division. 

Raced by Rodger and Nerida Atkinson from Yeoval, Jade Division ($11) was nicely positioned midfield by Ingelse and then took control to win by three lengths from Sallista (Tony Cavallo, $4.40) and Divine Entity (Michael Heagney, $5). 

Another apprentice riding well is Dubbo based Jake Barrett who overcame a wide barrier on the Brett Robb trained No Debt to lead most of the way when winning the 1000 metres Australian Food & Fibre Benchmark 50 Handicap from Latest News (James Rogers,$21) and Inferno Miss (Kacie Adams, $4.20). 

Carrying the orange and black colours of the David Baxter MacQuarie Stud at Wellington, the Garry Lunn, Dubbo trained Allchosen (Brooke Stower, $7) was an all the way winner of the 1600 metres Coopers Farm Gear Class 1 & Maiden Plate from Chowdah ( Billy Cray,$3.10 fav.) and Individualist (Clayton Gallagher, $4). 

A powerful ride by Clayton Gallagher saw the Wayne Collison, Narromine trained Planet Ex ($3.40 fav.) come from fourth on the home turn to beat Sin City Belle (Hollie Hull, $4.80) and Aisle Six (Billy Cray, $12) in the 1400 metres MCC Hydraulics Benchmark 50 Handicap. 

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Coonabarabran Cup on Friday 24 December followed by Wellington ( Boxing Day ), Orange ( December 30 ), Gilgandra ( December 31 ) and Gilgandra Cup ( January 2 ).