Sport
31 January, 2026
Big wins for locals at New Year's Races
Gilgandra enjoyed a successful two-day New Year's Racing Carnival
Gilgandra - raced December 27, 2025
Apart from contributions by Santa Claus, supporters of the Kieren Hazelton stable had their Christmas expenses covered when the local trainer won three races on the first day of the Gilgandra New Year's racing carnival.
In true Christmas spirit, Kieren Hazelton shared his trio of winners amongst different jockeys, Jake Pracey-Holmes (Invincible Phantom), Izzy Neale (Dao Sun) and Kody Nestor (Order Of Merit).
Kicking off the carnival in front of a big crowd, Jake Pracey-Holmes sent his mount to the lead as the field settled down in the 1000 metres Wayne Mallison Painting and Decorating Maiden Plate and Invincible Phantom ($3.80 to $3.20) ran out a convincing winner from Outlaw Annie (Clayton Gallagher, $1.40 favourite) and Long Time Lovers (Zoe Hunt, $14).
Apprentice Izzy Neale had the reins when Dao Sun ($2.10), coming from fourth position, surged down the outside to beat Box Of Crackers (Mikayla Weir, $4.40) and Big Shot Legend (James Rogers, $17) in the 1100 metres Royal Hotel Benchmark 50 Handicap.
Kody Nestor was wearing the green and white Bowman Racing colours when Order Of Merit completed the Kieren Hazelton treble in the 1600 metres Western Farm Machinery Benchmark 50 Handicap.
Steadily making ground from midfield, Order Of Merit ($8) reached the lead on the home turn before winning by over a length from Hasime (Zoe Hunt, $4.60) and Beg Me (Jake Pracey-Holmes, $26).
After sharing the lead, the Clint Lundholm, Dubbo-trained Beauty Edge (Zoe Hunt, $4.40) broke away to win the 1200 metres Railway Hotel BM 50 Handicap while the other winners were the Brett Robb, Dubbo-trained Snowball (Izzy Neale, $2.25 to $2 favourite) and Magic Sorcerer (Jacob Stiff, $3.50 to $2.70 fav.) trained at Gunnedah by Sally Torrens.
Gilgandra Cup raced January 4, 2026
Another big crowd for the second day of the summer racing carnival which featured the $50,000 Gilgandra Services Club-Gilgandra Cup (1600 metres) won by Wealthy Investor.
Celebrating the win by the $26 outsider were a big western area syndicate including several committee members of the Coonamble Jockey Club.
Wealthy Investor was ridden a great race by Jake Pracey-Holmes for Damien Lane, formerly from Coonamble and now a successful trainer at Wyong.
Settling midfield, Wealthy Investor powered home to win the cup by almost two lengths from Tainui (Shannen Llewellyn, $6) and Rouge Moulin (Clayton Gallagher, $2.60 favourite) with Order Of Merit (Zoe Hunt, $41) a good run for fourth after winning on the first day of the carnival.
Feature sprint, the 1100 metres Northwest Tanks-Bob Foran Memorial Town Plate was won by the speedster Chandon Star from the Jane Clement stable at Mendooran.
Away quickly under apprentice Chelsea Hillier, Chandon Star ($14) led all the way to score by over a length from Enterprise Legend (Siena Grima, $3.90 equal favourite) and Brief Statement (Clayton Gallagher, $10).
Sponsored by Ahrens, the $50,000 Walter Prout Memorial Super Maiden Handicap (1200 metres) saw an all the way win by the Clint Lundholm-trained Tropic (Kody Nestor, $1.26) from Revenue Raiser (Ella Drew, $5.50) and Real Housewives (Mikayla Weir, $26).
Following a last start win at Dubbo the Brett Robb-trained Imastatement ($5) was given a nice run behind the leaders before beating Nevermista (Daniel Northey, $4.60) and My Boy Scout (Kody Nestor, $6.50) in the 1100 metres Three Rivers Machinery-Kate Smith Memorial Benchmark 58 Handicap.
