Sport
27 June, 2026
Charlotting doubles up at Bathurst
Backing up after winning over 1800 metres at Gulgong the previous week, the Garry Lunn, Dubbo-trained Charlotting again proved to be a capable stayer when taking out the 2000 metres Central West Smoke Alarms Benchmark 58 Handicap at Bathurst.
Raced at Bathurst, Tuesday June 16
Charlotting led to the halfway point where the jockey on Casterly Rock, not satisfied with the slow pace, sent his mount around the field from last to take up the frontrunners role.
Relishing the heavy track, Charlotting (Jacob Stiff, $5) took control in the straight for a convincing win from Reel Crystal (Coriah Keatings, $1.80 favourite) and Casterly Rock (Liam Blanch, $17).
The young Bathurst trainer Angus Stewart is building a handy team and he won the opening races with De Joker and Italus, both being lightly raced and formerly trained in Sydney.
De Joker (Chad Lever, $5.50) led throughout for a runaway win by over five lengths from Don’t Say Do (Reece Jones, $2.10 favourite) and Argyle Springs (Grant Buckley, $6.50) in the 1200 metres Bathurst Ag, Horse and Vet Maiden Handicap.
Italus (Reece Jones, $9) also led in the 1400 metres Captain Thunderbolts Maiden Plate but was under more pressure when holding off the Sharon Jeffries, Parkes trained Miss Peony (Mikayla Weir, $6.50) by a half-length and Michonne’s Katana (Grant Buckley, $2.40 favourite.
Adding to a good day for Bathurst stables, the Gayna Williams trained Cheap Shot ($8.50) had Clayton Gallagher aboard when taking the lead after turning for home and going on to win by over two lengths from Prorata (Jacob Stiff, $1.95 favourite) and Zahdi (Reece Jones, $8.50) in the 1100 metres Happy Birthday Paul Theobald Benchmark 58 Handicap.
Bred to be good, the three-year-old filly Indi Springs looked the part when winning the 1200 metres Dusty Hooves Country Boosted Class Two Plate for Mudgee trainer Mack Griffith.
A younger half-sister to the very good gallopers Zarizatycoon, Tags and Nomorenightshift, Indi Springs a three-times winner and placed second twice from six starts, was bred and is raced by Adam and Kristy Baker, formerly from Forbes.
In the straight, Indi Springs (Jean Van Overmeire, $1.85 favourite) overhauled Sorrento Palace (Jake Pracey-Holmes, $13) to win by over a length with Giovanni Star (Donovan Dillon, $21) in third place.
Jarrod Austin from his stables at Warwick Farm is a regular visitor and consistent winner at Bathurst and on Tuesday he won the 1100 metres Ben Hall Dash Maiden Handicap with Smichov, well ridden by Reece Jones.
On the rails, Smichov ($3.10 favourite), reached the lead in the straight, was clearly headed, then fought back to beat Spare (Rory Hutchings, $4) and Gold Finger (Jacob Stiff, $3.80).
