By Colin Hodges.

Locally trained and owned Turgenev was a popular winner of the feature event, the 1550 metres Mountain View Hotel Tooraweenah Cup on Saturday 4 February at Gilgandra.

Raced by a big syndicate including Gilgandra Jockey Club president Jason Tate and trained at the track by Kieren Hazelton, Turgenev had been part of a winning treble for Hazelton and Sydney based jockey Andrew Banks at the New Years Eve meeting.

Another great ride by Andrew Banks in the Tooraweenah Cup saw Turgenev ($3.60 to $2.70) away quickly from an outside barrier to take the trail behind the leader Blue Channel.

In the straight, Turgenev shot away to win by over four lengths from Northern Borders (Zara Lewis, $91) and Blue Channel (Shayleigh Ingelse, $5.50).

During a good day for Gilgandra trainers, Bryan Dixon won the 1000 metres Rohr’s Home Timber & Hardware Benchmark 50 Handicap with rank outsider Stryke ‘Em Onesie ridden by the stable apprentice Zara Lewis.

Official starting price for Stryke ‘Em Onesie was $61 however the TAB dividend was $83 and the TAB Fixed odds was $101.

Leading for home by a slender margin, Stryke ‘Em Onesie held on gamely to win by a neck from Byzantium (Shayleigh Ingelse, $7)and the fast finishing Starlink (Tony Cavallo, $3.70).

Newcastle trainer Andrew MacDonald won a race at Gilgandra last year with Midas Star and obviously enjoyed the visit as he returned on Saturday to land a winning double with Emerald Reach and Jumping Power Two, both being ridden by Clayton Gallagher.

Settling fifth in the 1000 metres Aquawest Maiden Handicap, Emerald Reach ($6.50 to $5.50) hit the lead in the straight to win by a length from Charge Away (Serg Lisnyy, $4.60) and London Tycoon (Tony Cavallo, $1.90 favourite).

Three year old gelding Jumping Power Two produced a good performance when carrying the 60.5kg top weight and coming from an outside barrier to win the 800 metres Geronimo Farm Equipment Class 1 Handicap.

Jumping Power Two ($1.60 to $1.40 favourite) raced outside the leader and responding to powerful riding from Clayton Gallagher, won by a short head from So Extra (Serg Lisnyy, $5) with over two lengths to Mr Bobcat (Will Stanley, $14).

Sons of Bourke shines on

With a dislike for rain affected tracks, the nine year old gelding Sons Of Bourke on a good racing surface at Gilgandra returned to form when winning the 1280 metres Freck’s Electrical And Solar Benchmark 50 Handicap.

Well ridden by Wellington based apprentice Dylan Stanley, Sons Of Bourke ($13) came from midfield to beat Valadyium (Ken Dunbar, $17) and Punkzy (Andrew Banks, $21).

Owned by Mark Spencer, Kurt Dickson, Frank Hollman and Glen Knight (all from Bourke) and now trained at Nyngan by Rodney Robb, Sons Of Bourke has recorded 8 wins and 18 placings from 69 starts and accumulated $185,000 prizemoney.

Dubbo trainer Michael Mulholland and Wyong jockey Serg Lisnyy who are proving a successful combination, won the 1280 metres Bendigo Bank Maiden Plate with Rubiland.

Finishing fast from near the tail of the 12 horse field, Rubiland ($5) arrived in time to beat Cherry Blue (Tony Cavallo, $5.50) and Outside Edge (James Rogers, $16).

Next up

Condobolin Picnics and Coonabarabran are scheduled for Saturday 18 February with Mudgee on Sunday 19 featuring the $150,000 Central Districts Qualifier for the Newhaven Park Country Championship Final at Royal Randwick.