Since September, 57 year old jockey Michael Heagney has ridden in Western Australia, South Australia , New South Wales and Queensland and on Sunday he was at Warren to win the 1600 metres Cotton Cup on Ancient Egypt for trainer Wayne Brown.

Tamworth based Wayne Brown and Michael Heagney often combine to win races at some of the most remote tracks in Australia and have great respect for each other.

Landing some good bets, Ancient Egypt ($12) came from fifth on the home turn to win by a short head from Sea Of Flames (Clayton Gallagher, $2.30 favourite) which hit the front in the straight, while the leader Zounile (Zoe Hunt, $3.20) finished over four lengths away in third place.

The wheat harvest is well underway in the area which meant some intending racegoers were unable to be trackside, however there was a very good crowd at the Cotton Cup meeting which had been given excellent promotion.

Dubbo trainer Clint Lundholm and jockey Kody Nestor were off to an flying start when Truth I Fear ($2.80) led throughout to win the 1400 metres Hutcheon and Pearce Super Showcase Maiden Plate from Kuroshinzo (Nick Heywood, $5.50) and Trust A Kitty (Siena Grima, $2.15 to $1.90 favourite) which came from a long way back.

Later, Lundholm and Nestor combined to win the 1400 metres Inland Petroleum Benchmark 58 Handicap with Hit The Rim with Kody Nestor picking up the $500 cash prize sponsored by Warren Services Club for leading jockey on the day.

In an gripping finish, Hit The Rim ($8.50) from well back steamed down the outside to edge out Power Beau (Michael Heagney, $7) by a head with Tupou (Zoe Hunt, $7.50) battling on well for third.

The Cahill family from Cowra are very much involved with Violet And Blue, winner of the 1000 metres Halcroft and Bennett Benchmark 58 Handicap, Mathew Cahill being the jockey, his sister Kathryn Cahill is the trainer and their mother Margaret Cahill shares ownership with Kathryn.

Bred by the Cahills, Violet And Blue is from Two Penny Blue, a winner for the family and named by Michael Cahill who is now a leading jockey in Brisbane.

When riding with success in Mauritius, Michael Cahill became aware of a famous stamp, the Two Penny Blue which began usage in the then British colony Mauritius in 1847.

Michael’s brother Mathew Cahill gave his mount a charmed run behind the leaders and Violet And Blue ($3.50 to $3.20 favourite) zipped along the inside to win by over a length from Press Forward (Jessica Brookes, $10) and Obsessive Nature (Lauren Van Tijn, $3.80).

Trained at Narromine by Wayne Collison for his wife Robyn Douglas, the speedy mare Sisters Pick advanced the record to 6 wins and 4 placings from 16 starts when beating a smart field in the 1200 metres Western Farm Machinery Benchmark 82 Warren Sprint.

Going to the early lead, Sisters Pick (Jessica Brookes, $11) was a convincing winner from Smart And Dapper (Ken Dunbar, $4) and Castlebar Road (Georgina McDonnell, $10).

At debut, Romantic Love (Clayton Gallagher, $4.20) was an impressive winner of the 1000 metres Nutrien Ag Solutions Maiden Handicap for Dubbo trainer Brett Robb while the Mack Griffith, Mudgee trained Stratified (Jake Pracey-Holmes, $4 to $3.10 fav.) led most of the way to win the 1200 metres Queensland Cotton Class 2 Handicap.

                       —————————.  

Racing at Bathurst on Saturday and Wellington on Sunday.