By COLIN HODGES

Well informed punters had substantial collects from wagers when the Cowra trained galloper Young Heart landed a betting plunge on Tuesday 6 September at the Gilgandra meeting transferred from Wellington.

Gilgandra has now this year hosted 5 meetings transferred from other venues due to waterlogged tracks.

Usually these transfers have been at short notice and a huge credit to the Gilgandra Jockey Club committee for getting organised so quickly for the overall good of country racing.

Dubbo jockey Ken Dunbar with a well judged ride in the Benchmark 66 Handicap on the Michael Lynch trained Young Heart gradually made ground from near the back of the field to be ready to challenge when heads turned for home.

Backed from $18 to $5, Young Heart swept down the outside to win by two lengths from another Cowra galloper Deshawn (Jake Barrett,$2.40 favourite) with a half neck to Makuba (Zara Lewis,$5).

From the Barry Wall stable, the highly consistent Deshawn ran another top race following a last start win at Bathurst.

Gilgandra Jockey Club has taking on the title of most-hosted meetings for 2022.

Another heavily supported winner was the Andrew Macdonald, Newcastle trained Midas Star in the 800 Maiden Plate.

Midas Star (Clayton Gallagher,$7.50 In to $2.90 favourite) set the pace and lasted to win from Nacho Nacho Man (Qin Yong,$5) and Yorker (Tony Cavallo,$11).

Punters again lined up to collect when Silica Sand (Clayton Gallagher,$6.50 in to $3.70 favourite) trained at Newcastle by Dale Wagstaff, came from fourth on the home turn to score in a three way photo finish from the Bryan Dixon, Gilgandra trained Vivalicious (Zara Lewis,$31) and Chilean Express (Damon Budler,$4.50) in the 1100 metres Maiden Handicap.

Before the break through win, Silica Sand had recorded 10 placings from 28 starts.

A well-maintained and almost-weatherproof track makes Gilgandra a haven for forced transfers.

Making it three wins for Clayton Gallagher and Newcastle trainers, the Todd Howlett trained Lady Audrey ($2.20 fav.) hit the front in the straight and clung on for a close win over Golden Eclipse ( Tony Cavallo,$5.50) and Hemsted (Julia Presits,$4.40) in the 1600 metres Benchmark 58 Handicap.

Dubbo based apprentice Jake Barrett however managed to get home ahead of Clayton Gallagher by a narrow margin in the 1280 metres Country Boosted Maiden Plate.

The Paul Theobald, Bathurst trained Power Bank (Jake Barrett,$2.30 fav.) reached the lead and was able to hold off Sistine Queen ( Clayton Gallagher,$3.50 ) by a nose with a long neck to Crystal Beanz (Teaghan Martin,$3.90).

Rylstone trainer Bob Howe is a master at keeping veteran gallopers racing in good form and after the ten year old Northern Conqueror won at the previous Gilgandra meeting the eight year old Petain (Tony Cavallo,$8.50) on Tuesday won the 1400 metres Country boosted Benchmark 58 Handicap.

Mature age apprentice Damon Budler who outrode his country allowance (80 wins), at Queanbeyan earlier in the week, led all the way on the Allan McCrae, Yass trained Bold Offa ($3.60) to win the 800 metres Class 3 Handicap at Gilgandra.