ridden by Emily Waters) to win Race 5, the PJL Class B Handicap by half a length, on Saturday at Cobar Miners Race Club’s Christmas Pop Up Races event.
Formerly from the United States, Kate Petersen made her debut as a jockey on Saturday and won the opening race at the Cobar Pop Up Picnics on Jawsome for local trainer Wayne ‘Wap’ Prisk.
Working for Goulburn trainer Danny Williams for the past four years as a forewoman, Petersen (29) was offered several mounts at the Cobar meeting by Wayne Prisk and her long journey was rewarded when the 10 year old Jawsome came up trumps in the first race on the program, the 1,000 metres Cynend Building And Construction Handicap.
Taking prizemoney earnings to over $100,000 with eight wins and 19 placings from 91 starts, Jawsome ($2 favourite) travelled in third position before taking control and winning by a length and three quarters from Rebecca’s Quest (John Wilson, $3) and the leader Bizarro (Breanna Bourke, $6).
Four year old gelding Celtic Harp had only started 12 times but already had three trainers, Chris Waller and John O’Shea in Sydney and David Vandyke in Queensland before recently joining the Connie Greig stable at Dubbo.
First up for Connie Greig, Celtic Harp (Wilson, $2.80) came from last with a strong, wide run to beat Flying Foxy (Emily Waters, $2 fav.) and the leader Jester Diva (Ricky Blewitt, $8) in the 1,000 metres Nutrien Russell Class 1 Handicap.
(Greig won the $50,000 Picnic Championship with Hemsted earlier this year and her quest has already commenced to qualify multiple runners for the 2023 final.)
Menindee-trained Budget King set the pace in the 1,370 metres QUBE Trophy Handicap however the first two home were from the Greig stable, Inzaghi, giving Dubbo jockey Wilson a winning double when beating Get Up Alby (Bourke) and the Prisk-trained Equilibrium (Petersen).
Narromine-based Blewitt, also rode a winning double, on Bella Days and Dutton Ranch.
Trained at Forbes by Peter Kirby, Bella Days ($1.60 fav.) strolled home over seven lengths clear of More Than Luck (Waters, $3.50) and Rebel Lilly (Petersen, $4) in the 1,200 metres Nicholsons of Nymagee Class B Handicap.
Visiting trainer Benno Bowen from Cunnamulla, Queensland had wins with Ice Kitten and Dutton Ranch.
Ice Kitten (Bourke, $7) led by five lengths in the 1,200 metres Dean’s Carpentry & Concreting Maiden Plate and lasted to win by a short neck from Red Card Rosie (Blewitt, $6).
Dubbo-based Sebastian Galea, riding at his first meeting, was a fast finishing third on the $4 chance Her Call.
Jackal (Waters, $2.20 fav.) led by six lengths but was run down and beaten a half length by Dutton Ranch (Blewitt, $2.80) with Outback Pat (Bourke, $4) third in the 1,370 metres PJL Class B Handicap.
As was the case on Saturday, the Cobar club has hosted additional pop-up meetings this year to assist the racing industry when other clubs have been forced to abandon meetings due to rain affected tracks.
There was a good crowd in attendance with the official gate figure 407.—Colin Hodges
