By COLIN HODGES

Resuming from a spell, On A Promise cemented a spot in the $50,000 Picnic Championship Final when winning the 1100 metres QUBE Agri Open Sprint on Saturday at the Coonamble Picnic Meeting.

The field for the 1400 metres Final at the Coonamble Gold Cup meeting on Sunday October 12 is decided by a point score over the Picnic circuit and On A Promise is a leader on the Qualifying ladder.

*Barry McIntyre and Rusty Owens of race sponsors QubeAgri with winning syndicate members Andrew and Jess Hyder and Coonamble Jockey Club Secretary Ana Robson at the Picnic Races on Saturday 7 August.

One of three winners on the day for Dubbo trainer Brett Robb and jockey Maddison Wright, On A Promise is raced by a syndicate mainly from Lake Cargelligo. and as usual was strongly supported in the betting ring.

Leading for home, On A Promise ($3 favourite) ran out a comfortable winner over Madison Point (William Stanley,$8) and Scout (Ricky Blewitt,$3.60).

Improving on recent form, Hotel Charlie ($7) raced by Barry Noble was the first leg of the Brett Robb and Maddison Wright treble when establishing a four lengths lead and then lasting to win the 1200 metres Geronimo Farm Equipment Maiden Plate by a half neck from Memphis Beau ( William Stanley,$2.50 fav.) and Benoni ( Brent Evans,$2.70 ).

Yet again it was Brett Robb and Maddison Wright successful in the 1100 metres Nutrien Ag Solutions Class B Handicap when Combogolong ($5) made it 4 wins from 10 starts when leading most of the way to beat Japingka (Brent Evans,$2.50 fav.) and Lady Cornelia (Paula Heath,$17).

Dennis Todd from Baradine who bred and owns Combogolong has been racing horses since 1964 and has won races at 49 different tracks.

The cheers from the crowd said it all as local galloper Step ‘N’ Dollars (Brent Evans,$12) making ground from midfield reeled in the leaders to win the 1400 metres Dad & Dave Turf & Evergreen Turf Class B Handicap by nearly three lengths from Nepenthes (William Stanley,$5.50) and Diamonds Are Good (Maddison Wright,$2.10 fav.)

Despite being a Maiden Class performer taking on the winners of up to 3 races, the Andrew Bayley, Coonamble trained Step ‘N’ Dollars, owned by several members of the Canham family, had plenty of support and proved a costly result for bookmakers.

Brent Evans is an extremely talented rider and he displayed his class when the Gavin Groth, Gunnedah trained Danspur ( $3.50 ) from third on the rails gained a split and raced clear to account for Equilibrium (William Stanley,$4.80) and Lucienne (Maddison Wright,$11) in the 1300 metres Swanny’s Foods Open Handicap.

Originally from Ecuador, Anaelle Gangotena became a trackwork rider in Canberra before obtaining a jockey licence and riding 10 winners in her first season.

With a nice front running ride she won the 1600 metres Woodhams Petroleum Class 2 Handicap on the Doug Gorrel, Canberra trained Georgian Court ($2.30 fav.) which crossed the line over three lengths clear of Shiny Agent ( Maddison Wright,$4.40 ) and Occasional (Michael .T. Johnston,$4.40).

Organised at short notice by Coonamble Jockey Club in conjunction with Racing NSW, the Meeting was staged to give owners and trainers a chance to start their horses as several recent Picnic Meetings had been cancelled due to Covid restrictions.

The most recent Picnic Meetings conducted by the Coonamble Jockey Club were in 2003 and 2004.

Prior to then the Oxley Picnics were held at Coonamble until that Club was disbanded in May 1979.

Racing at Parkes (non-TAB) on Saturday and the Narromine Cup (TAB) on Sunday.