By Colin Hodges

Situated in far north west New South Wales within 70 kilometres of the Queensland border, the famous opal mining town Lightning Ridge attracted a very big crowd on Easter Saturday 2023 to their annual race meeting.

Although the $74,000 prizemoney is tempting, a major enticement for owners and trainers to start their horses at the isolated venue are the trophies, opal pendants for the support races and a magnificent opal bracelet for the Cup winner, independently valued at $19,500 and created by Jo Lindsay from Lost Sea Opals.

The much sought after opal bracelet now has a home with connections of the Kevin Dixon, Tamworth trained Indian Thunder, winner of the 1200 metres P W Concrete Lightning Ridge Cup.

One of the best backed runners at the meeting, the 8 year old gelding Indian Thunder started at $7 and with apprentice Kelsey Lenton in the saddle led the 11 horse field to the home turn.

Indian Thunder had over two lengths to spare at the finish from The Defiant One (Shayleigh Ingelse, $12) which ran on well along the inside rail while the 2022 Cup winner Fearless Mila (Ronald Simpson, $5) finished third.

Making a welcome return to the winners list after a break from racing was the talented apprentice Ronald Simpson on the Dar Lunn, Dubbo trained Gretzky in the 1200 metres Lost Sea Opals Benchmark 45 Handicap.

Reaching the lead over the closing stages, Gretzky ($2.80 favourite) won by a neck from the fast finishing Quick Spin (Will Stanley, $12) with Tycoon Jim (Chelsea Ings, $6) in third place.

Scone based apprentice Braith Nock bit the dust when riding a bull the previous night at the Lightning Ridge rodeo then backed up to win the 900 metres Dubbo City & Gilgandra Toyota Class 1 Handicap on the Connie Greig, Dubbo trained Benyatta ( $1.80 fav.).

Racing wide, Benyatta led most of the way to beat Grenado (Jacob Golden, $6) and Geesheehan (Will Stanley, $4).

Another Dubbo trainer to land a winner was Michael Lunn with Royal Samer (Jake Barrett, $4) which held on to beat the strong finishing Better Than Pearls (Chelsea Ings, $7) and Outside Edge ( James Rogers, $2.30 fav.) in the 1200 metres Lightning Ridge Maiden Plate.

Always near the lead the Peter Sinclair, Moree trained Katgully Red (Jacob Golden, $3.20) won the 1000 metres Gingie Gallop Benchmark 58 Handicap by over two lengths from Yes Kurt (Kelsey Lenton, $13) and Foxstorm (Andrew Banks,$5.50).

Katgully Red began hanging out badly in the straight and unfortunately suffered a catastrophic injury when crashing through the outside fence after the finish.

Apprentice Jacob Golden complained of back pain after the incident and was transported to hospital.

Starting a clean sweep by apprentices at the meeting, Shayleigh Ingelse won the opening event, the 900 metres Spider & Tiny Brown Memorial Maiden Plate (900 metres) on the Brett Thompson, Gulgong trained Dysnomia.

Hugging the inside rail, Dysnomia ($4.40) led for home and won by almost a length from Orreza (James Rogers, $4) and Castlehyde Jake Barrett, $8).

Next races in the western plains is on Saturday 15 April at Warren.