By Colin Hodges

Formerly from England, jockey James Rogers receives limited opportunities and he seized the chance to ride The Bald Eagle for local trainer Kieren Hazleton in the feature event, the 1280 metres Ahrens Open Handicap on Saturday at Gilgandra.

Rogers made a winning move when he took off from midfield to dash The Bald Eagle to the lead at the top of the short straight.

Responding to hard riding and the cheering of the Gilgandra based owners, The Bald Eagle ($4) held off off the late closing Drachenfels (Clayton Gallagher, $3.60) by a head with two lengths to Jin Chi Phantom (Tiffany Jeffries, $6).

Part owned by the Gilgandra Jockey Club president Jason Tate and trained by Kieren Hazleton, Chesty was under pressure well before the home turn but stuck on grimly to win the 1280 metres Gilgandra Toyota Class 1 Handicap.

After racing outside the joint leader Exlite, Chesty (Andrew Banks, $3 favourite) lasted to beat Lenny’s Lad (Clayton Gallagher, $5) and Spicy Menu (Angela Cooper, $7).

Taking full advantage of the inside barrier, Mikayla Weir had the Jeremy Sylvester, Cessnock trained Sportsman with the lead from the outset in the 800 metres Gilgandra Services Benchmark 50 Handicap.

Sportsman ($3.20) broke clear in the straight and scored by a over two lengths from the fast finishing Big Arjay (Jake Barrett, $3 fav.)

Carrying a bet of $2,800 to $400, Diggers Reach (Kath Bell-Pitomac,$8 to $3.50) ran home well for third.

Presented in good order by Dubbo trainer Janelle Galea, the lightly raced five year old gelding Leviticus (Ken Dunbar, $17) led throughout to win the 800 metres Damows & More Maiden Handicap from Padrone (Jake Pracey-Holmes, $5) and Our Kelvey Girl (Kath Bell-Pitomac, $8).

An astute buyer of tried gallopers at on line auctions, Parkes trainer Sharon Jeffries produced Mr Bobcat first up for the stable, at Gilgandra in the 1200 metres Nutrien Ag Solutions Maiden Plate. 

Unplaced at five previous outings, Mr Bobcat (Tiffany Jeffries) despite drawing an outside barrier found a good position behind the leaders .

Tiffany Jeffries sent her mount to the front turning for home and Mr Bobcat ($8.00) won by a half length from Velvet Star (Jake Pracey-Holmes, $1.90 fav.) which came from well back with a rails run while Monetise (Elissa Meredith, $12) was a long head away in third place.

Bathurst based Chelsea Ings and Coonabarabran trainer Graeme Brooker combined to win the final event, the 1200 metres Gilgandra Sporties Benchmark 50 Handicap.

Holding a slender lead in the straight, Plectrum ($6) withstood the challenge from the fast finishing Fox Spirit (Jake Barrett, $4) to score by a long head while Blue Channel (Clayton Gallagher, $3.50 fav.) was a long head back third after looming as a winning chance inside the final 150 metres.

Backing up from finishing a good fourth in the $150,000 WRA Country Championship Qualifier at Coonamble last Sunday the Brett Robb trained Beau Factor won the 1280 metres Spanline Home Additions Benchmark 58 Handicap on Sunday at Orange.

Apprentice Jackson Searle took Beau Factor to the early lead from Sue’s Girlfriend, Soloist, Psicopatico and Howlowcanyougo.

Petain (Mathew Cahill,$8) made late ground but was beaten threequarters of a length by Beau Factor ($2.15 favourite) with Vaquero (Rachael Murray, $11) a handy third.

Racing at Wellington on Friday featuring the 2400 metres Over The Line Racing - Iron Horse Challenge with the award winning Tullibigeal Picnics on Saturday and the $200,000 Over The Line Racing - Wellington Boot on Sunday.