Those who admire beautiful things were wishing they had a horse good enough to win the PW Concrete Lightning Ridge Cup on Easter Saturday.

Apart from the $7,450 first prizemoney, the undoubted lure was the trophy valued at over $25,000, a magnificent opal bracelet designed by Jo Lindsay and locally made at Lost Sea Opals.

As was the case last year, the trophy went back to the stables near Tamworth of Kevin Dixon, trainer of veteran galloper Indian Thunder.

Kelsey Lenton won the 2023 Cup on Indian Thunder and this year it was French born apprentice Camille Houlgatte in the saddle.

The nine year old Indian Thunder ($2.50 favourite) went to the early lead and thereafter fought off several rivals in the straight to win the 1200 metres Cup by a long neck from My Odette (Zoe Hunt, $6.50) and Toulon Factor (Shannen Llewellyn, $3.80).

Promising apprentice Shannen Llewellyn posted the 4th winner of of her so far short career when leading all the way on the Jane Clement, Muswellbrook trained Dozen Kilpatrick ($3.50) to beat Exclusive Drop (Billy Cray, $4.60) and Better Judgement (Jake Pracey-Holmes, $2.60 fav.) in the 900 metres Dubbo City And Gilgandra Toyota Class 1 Handicap.

PHOTO VIA  Lightning Ridge Race Club Facebook

Quirindi trainer Geoff O’Brien said he was pleased to have such a strong rider as Andrew Banks on Super Hot in the 1000 metres Gingie Gallop Benchmark 58 Handicap

Banks worked overtime on Super Hot ($2.50 fav.) which eventually wore down Venatic (Georgina McDonnell, $3.50) to win by a head with Benyatta (Jake Pracey-Holmes, $2.60) finishing third.

Trained at Dubbo by Dar Lunn, the Walgett owned Character Witness (Jake Pracey-Holmes, $1.80 fav.) led throughout to beat the other equal favourite Mistnaces (Zoe Hunt) by a long head with Better Than Pearls, $5) third in the 1200 metres Lost Sea Opals Maiden Plate.

PHOTO VIA  Lightning Ridge Race Club Facebook

Punters prepared to take the short odds were off to a good start when the Clint Lundholm, Dubbo trained Kirameki (Georgina McDonnell, $1.40 favourite) won the 900 metres Spider & Tiny Brown Memorial Maiden Plate from Makeawooturn (Andrew Banks, $3.40) and the early leader Bilyara (Hannah Johnston, $10).

Not many punters amongst the big crowd were lining up to collect after the final event, the 1200 metres Lightning Ridge District Bowling Club Benchmark 45 Handicap being won by the rank outsider Torrid Affair.

Well ridden by apprentice Angela Cooper for Coonabarabran trainer Graeme Brooker, Torrid Affair ($14) raced close to the lead before breaking clear to beat Tells Tails (Zoe Hunt, $3 equal favourite) and Fenerbache (Camille Houlgatte, $6).

Racing at Coonabarabran (TAB)on Saturday and Dubbo (TAB) on Sunday.