Dubbo trainer Connie Greig and leading jockey Leandro Ribeiro teamed up to have a good day in the saddle including this win by Ribeiro on board the Greig-trained Benyatta in Race 3, the Dubbo City Toyota Kensington Open Picnic Sprint. Greig’s Belle O’Balle finished a close second with Bush Warrior back in third place. Greig won three of the six races on Saturday and Ribeiro also rode three winners for the day.
Over recent years Dubbo trainer Connie Greig has collected a swag of Cobar Cups and on Saturday she took home the feature race trophy won by Inzaghi.
This time it was at the Pop Up Picnic meeting transferred from Come-By-Chance north east of Cobar.
With leading jockey Leandro Ribeiro in the saddle, Inzaghi ($1.60 favourite) raced outside the leader Merdeka (Grady Spokes, $2.50) before getting the better of the stablemate to win the Cup by over three lengths with the Wayne Prisk, Cobar trained Borlotti (Zara Lewis, $3.50) finishing third.
Greig won three of the six races, her other winners being Have Mercy (Spokes, $2.60) in the 1,000 metres Class 3 Trophy and Benyatta (Ribeiro, $2.20) which beat stablemate Belle ‘O Ballee (Spokes, $1.90 favourite) and Bush Warrior (Sebastian Galea, $4.40) in the 1,000 metres Open Picnic Sprint.
Nyngan trainer Rodney Robb and Ribeiro kicked off the day with an all the way win by Hammoon Sunshine ($2) over I Told Rubick (Lewis, $6) and Galleries Supreme (Spokes, $4) in the 1,000 metres Maiden Plate.
Emily Harrison (22) a trackwork rider for trainer Tim Donnelly at Wagga Wagga, had the thrill of riding her career first winner when the Debbie Prest, Canowindra-trained Sham ($4) led throughout to win the 1,200 metres Class B Handicap from Spicy Menu (Lewis, $2.60) and Hussniacki (Ribeiro, $1.50 fav.).
Well ridden by Galea in the 1,370 metres Class B Handicap, the Richard Jackson, Walgett-trained The Drafter ($1.80 fav.) tracked the leader before racing clear from Sun Master (Lewis, $2) and Watermelon Wine (Harrison, $4.40).—Colin Hodges
