Gulgong trainer takes home the Cobar Cup

It was a close finish in Race 2, the Sam’s Liquid Waste & Hire Class 2 Handicap at the Cobar Miners Race Club meeting on Saturday. Leroska (ridden by Chelsea Ings and trained by Brett Thompson from Gulgong) on the inside rail just pipped the Cobar-trained Bold Suggestion (jockey Eleanor Webster-Hawes, trainer Wayne ‘Wap’ Prisk). ▪ Photo courtesy of Klae McGuinness Photography

Gulgong trainer Brett Thompson had four winners at the Cobar Miners Race Club Autumn Meet on Saturday.

Thompson’s haul included Fairisle Miss ridden by Hawkesbury-based apprentice Chelsea Ings in the WesTrac Cobar Cup over 1,700 metres.

Dominating from the outset, Fairisle Miss (which paid $4.60) led throughout to score by over four lengths from Rusty Motorbike (ridden by Michael Hackett and paying $5) and Lens (Daniel Pitomac, $15).

Ings, who was named Most Successful Jockey of the meet, was also aboard the Thompson trained Leroska ($3.20 favourite, photo below) which, after being headed in the straight, fought back to win the Sam’s Liquid Waste & Hire Class 2 Handicap (1,000 metres) by a head from Bold Suggestion (Eleanor Webster-Hawes, $4.20) with Queens Charity (Tiffany Jeffries, $6), third.

Yuya Saiki from Gulgong rode the other Thompson-trained all the way winners, Turf On Top (Sullivan’s Mining & Hardware Vinty Delaney Memorial, $4) and more Than Art (KML Industries Buckman Family Memorial, $4.40).

Cobar trainer Wayne Prisk had three second placings, Bold Suggestion ($4.20), Nipper’s Destiny ($17) and Barakula ($7.50), all ridden by Eleanor Webster-Hawes.

Craig Tyack, president of the award winning Tullibigeal Picnic Race Club and also president of the NSW Picnic Races Association, was seen in his role as a trainer at Cobar on Saturday and won the Landmark Russell Dr Allan Brady Memorial Benchmark 45 Handicap (1,370 metres) with Easiestgameonearth.

Coming from midfield, Easiestgameonearth (Tiffany Jeffries, $9) chased down the leader Rexton (Yuya Saiki, $4.40) to win by nearly a length with Jesse’N’James (Daniel Pitomac, $17) finishing third.

Part owned by 90 year old Ed Meadows from Lake Cargelligo and trained at Parkes by George Wright, consistent placegetter Zelest broke through to win the first race, the Broughton Field Services George Booth Memorial Maiden Handicap (1,000 metres).

Near last and a long way from the leaders when settling down, Zelest ($5.50) ridden by Dubbo apprentice Kaylee Kirkwood, came with a strong finish on the outside to beat Wake Up Cass (Rasit Yetimova, $2.60 favourite) and Go Rev (Tiffany Jeffries, $7).—Colin Hodges