Sport
12 February, 2026
Cavanoughs grab Gil winning double
A winning double at Gilgandra capped a big day for the Scone-based Cavanough family.
Raced at Gilgandra - Saturday, February 7, 2026
A winning double at Gilgandra capped a big day for the Scone-based father and daughter, Brett and Georgie Cavanough, trainers' partnership.
Not long before the Gilgandra meeting kicked off, the 2024 Wellington Boot winner Fingers Hunter had Jason Collett in the saddle when backed from $14 to $9 and came from well back with a rails to win the Highway Handicap at Randwick for the Cavanaugh's.
In the opening races at Gilgandra, Protectionism and Proclivity from the Cavanough stable both carried the blue with white sashes colours of retail supremo Gerry Harvey.
Racing in fourth position, Protectionism (Mikayla Weir, $9) overhauled Miss Strategic (Dylan Stanley, $61) and Bodhi (Nick Palmer, $18) to win the 1000 metres W Foster Smash Repairs and Towing Maiden Handicap.
Next up was the 1280 metres Community Bank Gilgandra Maiden Plate and Proclivity (Nick Palmer, $7) claimed stablemate and leader Stuck In The Gorge turning for home then shot clear to score by nearly two lengths from My Sweetheart (Serg Lisnyy, $15) and Keinbah’s Warrior (Kody Nestor, $8.50).
Since moving last year from Bendemeer to Mendooran, trainer Jane Clement has continued to churn out the winners and it was a Gilgandra double with Chicken Legs and St Roy.
Chicken Legs (Ryan Bradley, $3.70 to $3.40 favourite) shook off joint leader Smart ‘N’ Ritzy then lasted to beat the Queensland-trained Seeburg (Nick Palmer, $10) and Cooma Hut (Zoe Hunt, $14) in the 1000 metres Tooraweenah Livestock and Property Benchmark 50 Handicap.
St Roy, a surprise third at Dubbo at $201, proved that was not a fluke with a good win in the 1280 metres Frecks Electrical and Solar-Benchmark 50 Handicap.
Always near the lead, St Roy (Jacob Stiff, $5) fought on gamely for a half-length win over stablemate Adviser (Ryan Bradley, $41) and Big Shot Legend (Izzy Neale, $4).
First-up for new trainer Connie Greig and resuming from a spell, Wotastatement starting a $71 rank outsider was a surprise winner of the 800 metres Rohrs Home Timber and Hardware Class One Handicap.
Kept in touch with the leaders by Mikayla Weir, Wotastatement finished best to prevail in a close finish from Brummagen (Ryan Bradley, $4.20) and One Smart Cookie (Leeshelle Small, $41)
Showers throughout the afternoon resulted in poor visibility for jockeys and the final event, the 2026 Mountain View Hotel Tooraweenah Cup was abandoned.
Run in conjunction with a fundraiser for Jess Tink and family, the Gilgandra meeting attracted a very big and generous crowd.
