Sport
26 December, 2025
BEST OF 2025: Great day of racing at weekend's Tooraweenah Cup
First published on February 12, 2025. The crowd of around 200 people, owners, trainers and jockeys battled through hot conditions with a maximum of around 37 degrees.
A great day of racing for Gilgandra trainer Kieren Hazelton with a pair of wins including victory in the feature with locally-owned Dao Sun highlighted a successful Tooraweenah Cup race meeting for Gilgandra Jockey Club on Saturday, February 8.
The crowd of around 200 people, owners, trainers and jockeys battled through hot conditions with a maximum of around 37 degrees for the opening races before a wind storm came through with around two races left and cooled the temperatures markedly, which was appreciated.
Gilgandra Jockey Club president Jason Tate said it was another good day of racing with $96,000 worth of prize money on offer across six races.
Gilgandra trainer Kieren Hazelton collected two victories and also three minor placings across the card.
Hazelton had a quinella in race five, the $16,000 Mountain View Hotel Tooraweenah Cup Benchmark 50 Handicap (1000m), the feature race.
Dao Sun ($5.50) won comfortably with Wendy Peel in the saddle as stablemate Dancelittlesister ran second for the Gilgandra-trained quinella.
It was an impressive win from DaoSun, who jumped well from barrier one and never relinquished his advantage, the six-year-old gelding scoring by more than three lengths to record his second win from 13 starts
Dao Sun has collected $25,880 in prize money for connections and was impressive in his second run back from a spell after last placing at Gilgandra last August.
He last won at the corresponding meeting at Gilgandra last year, with all of his two wins and one placing coming at home.
Dancelittlesister had a recent second at Gilgandra (December 28) and across her career has collected $97,410 in prize money with two wins and nine minor placings across 32 starts.
Dao Sun is part-owned by Tate with a group of men with connections to Gilgandra including trainer Hazelton, Josh Berryman, Michael McKenna, Josh McKenna, Greg King, Graham King, Tom Jordison and Ayrton Holland.
Bowman Racing are the major shareholders of Dao Sun and it was a win virtually a year in the making.
Ironically, Dao Sun last won at the corresponding February meeting at Gilgandra last year.
“It was a nice win, well-received,” Tate said of Dao Sun.
“He has just come back from a long spell and it was an enjoyable victory”
Tate said the owners will “let the dust settle” and “let the boss” (Hazelton) decide what is next for Dao Sun.
Hazelton also had a win in race three ($16,000 Community Bank Gilgandra Maiden Plate, 1280m) with Artell ($3.70).
Jake Pracey-Holmes was the successful jockey as he steered Artell beautifully with the four-year-old mare swooping home on the outside to win a three-way photo finish.
Hazelton’s stablemate Ransom’s Girl had a great run on the rails but finished third as second-placed Rebel Flyer ($2.80 favourite) and Artell stormed home.
It was the first placing for Ransom’s Girl in a nine-start career.
Artell’s first win came in her fourth start.
Tate reported that Gilgandra Jockey Club life member John Smith was “chuffed” when Artell saluted.
Smith is the owner of Artell, one of a few horses Smith owns and Hazelton trains.
“Nice win and he (Smith) was quite chuffed,” Tate said. “It’s another good result locally.”
Beg Me finished third in the second for Hazelton, the $16,000 Tooraweenah Prime Livetsick Marketing Co-operative Benchmark 50 Handicap (1550m). Moculta Warrior won race two for trainer Troy McCarney.
Other winning trainers included Parkes trainer Sharon Jeffries, who took out race one with Zillions, Ross Lomax (Desirous in race five) and Michael Mulholland with Tavanasia in race six.
Another nice touch at the six-race meeting was a presentation made to former Gilgandra Jockey Club secretary/chief executive officer Rebecca Mckay.
Mckay was a frequent traveller from the Warren area while in the role and again made the trip along the Oxley Highway to be a guest of Gilgandra Jockey Club at the Tooraweenah Cup meeting.
“It was great to send her off in a nice fashion after all of her contributions for the club,” Tate said.
The Tooraweenah Cup meeting wrapped up Gilgandra Jockey Club’s racing season.
Unless they are granted additional meeting transferred to Gilgandra because of wet weather, the club will next race again in August.
