By COLIN HODGES

Hardworking local jockey James Rogers had a deserved and popular win aboard Dao Sun on Saturday 10 February at Gilgandra.

Rogers handles the majority of horses in trackwork at Gilgandra including a sizeable team for trainer Kieren Hazelton.

The lightly raced Dao Sun ($4.20 to $3.20) held a slender lead at the top of the straight then broke clear to win the 1280 metres Western Farm Machinery Maiden Plate by almost three lengths from Underverse (Chelsea Ings, $51) and The Git Up (Ronald Simpson, $2.25 favourite).

Making it a good day for the locals the Leo Harland trained The Hulkbuster won the final event, the 1280 metres Tooraweenah Prime Lamb Co-Operative Benchmark 50 Handicap.

The Hulkbuster ($5.50) under jockey Wendy Peel went straight to the front and held on to win by a long neck from Keys To Love (Will Stanley, $11) and Mean Girls (James Rogers, $3.10 to $2.60 fav.).

First leg of a double for Dubbo jockey Wendy Peel was the Cec Hodgson, Coonamble trained Twyborn Affair in the 1000 metres Freck’s Electrical & Solar Benchmark 50 Handicap.

Close to the front at the 400 metres, Twyborn Affair ($5.50) led for home and ridden out strongly by Wendy Peel won by nearly a length from the Wangaratta (VIC) trained Miss Brondolino (Sarah McDonough,$4.20 fav.) and Luckyimwithaimee (Will Stanley, $6).

There were dramatic developments after the Mack Griffith, Mudgee trained Aussie Pharoah (Clayton Gallagher, $3.40 to $4.80) led throughout to win the 1550 metres Mountain View Hotel Benchmark 50 Handicap by over 4 lengths from Searchlight (Zoe Hunt, $13) and Edith’s Joy (Kath Bell-Pitomac, $11).

Soon after the finish, Aussie Pharoah veered sharply to the left and crashed through the mounting yard fence.

Aussie Pharoah escaped serious injury however leading jockey Clayton Gallagher suffered a suspected broken wrist.

In the opening race, the 1000 metres Jarryd Eason & Grant Nell Maiden Handicap, named after the track curators who do a great job at Gilgandra, Miss Adamas (Jake Pracey-Holmes, $1.90 fav.) had a handy lead however was run down and beaten a head by the Stephen Jones, Scone trained Divine DI Dora (Will Stanley, $6) with Platinum Warrior (Clayton Gallagher, $3.40) in third place.

Trained at Dubbo by Clint Lundholm and well ridden by his apprentice Ronald Simpson, Venatic($4.40) was second to the home turn before going on to win the 800 metres Tooraweenah Business Houses Class 1 Handicap by over a length from Have Mercy (Georgina McDonnell, $6.50) and the leader Juliette Street (Kath Bell-Pitomac, $31).

 Very good support by racegoers and sponsors from the village of Tooraweenah between Gilgandra and Coonabarabran helped make it a successful race meeting.

Racing next at the Condobolin Picnics on Saturday 17 February.