By COLIN HODGES

Bouncing back after missing two years of meetings due to the Covid pandemic, Gulargambone attracted a big crowd on Saturday 27 August with an outstanding performance by Superel to win the feature race.

Ridden by English born Billy Cray and trained by his partner Krissie Simpkins at Muswellbrook, Superel settled near the tail of the field, with Makuba setting the pace well clear of the nearest pursuer in the 1200 metres Halcroft & Bennett Bill Lambell Memorial Gulargambone Cup.

Fifteen lengths from the leaders, Superel ($2.80 favourite) came with a big finish to win by a length and a half from stablemate Twittersphere (Tony Cavallo,$6) which flashed home from last while Carinda Cup and Walgett Cup winner Plectrum (Ken Dunbar,$3.60) held on for third.

PHOTO: Gulargambone Racecourse was packed with people enjoying country racing!

Most bookmakers had a bad losing day with the Wayne Martyn, Coonabarabran trained For Da Boys one of their most costly results when winning the 1800 metres Dubbo City & Gilgandra Toyota Benchmark 50 Handicap.

Backed from $9 to $6, For Da Boys was ridden by apprentice Julia Presits formerly from Sweden and after sweeping around the field scored in a photo finish from Miss Twenty Two (Jake Barrett,$2.30 fav.) with Fiveash (Ashleigh Stanley,$7) a close third.

No relief for the bookmakers when the Kieren Hazleton, Gilgandra trained Green Opinions backed from $3 to $1.80 favourite won the 1200 metres Inland Petroleum Class 1 Handicap.

Fresh from holidays in Canada where he visited his adult son, Tony Cavallo was aboard Green Opinions which raced in the first four then finished best to defeat Mega Celebration (Ken Dunbar,$6) and Magic Smile ( Hollie Hull,$7).

First leg of a double for Kieren Hazleton was Zamali ridden by Ken Dunbar in the 1450 metres AJF Brien & Sons Benchmark 45 Handicap.

Jin Chi Phantom held a good lead and eventually finished fourth but only about a long neck behind the first three placegetters, Zamali ($8), Golden Eclipse (Angela Cooper,$3) and Yallah Sunrise (Hollie Hull,$4).

Wellington trainer Garry McCarney and apprentice Angela Cooper combined at the recent Cowra meeting to win with Overdafence and at Gulargambone they were successful with Monetise in the 1450 metres AMPS Agrubusiness Maiden Plate.

After racing in a handy position, Monetise ($3.20 fav.) won by a half length from Galleries Supreme (Ken Dunbar,$5) with the leader Dumbarton Castle (Tony Cavallo,$3.80) three lengths away third. 

Dubbo based apprentice Jake Barrett continued his recent run of success when the Michael Mulholland trained Ready Made Doll ($2.20 fav.) came from fourth to beat Smart ‘N’ Ritzy (Ken Dunbar,$4) which was slowly away and Twyborn Affair (Tony Cavallo,$12) in the 1100 metres Threefold Garden Management Maiden Handicap.