Sport
10 September, 2025
Huge crowd cheers Gilgandra-trained Mean Girls to Mendooran Cup win
Gilgandra trainer Kieren Hazelton made it a fantastic day for local racing enthusiasts on Saturday, September 6, 2025.
The biggest crowd at a Mendooran meeting for at least the past 50 years, cheered home the favourite Mean Girls, on Saturday, September 6, in the 1200 metres McGirr and Associates-Mendooran Cup ($16,000).
That large crowd and a winning double for Gilgandra trainer Kieren Hazelton made it a fantastic day for local racing enthusiasts.
Trained by Kieren Hazelton for the Gilgandra Jockey Club president Jason Tate and ridden by Jake Pracey-Holmes, Mean Girls after sharing the lead with track record holder Castlebar Road, broke clear at the top of the straight.
Power Bank (Kath Bell-Pitomac, $4) finished strongly however, Mean Girls ($2.80 favourite) held on to win by a short neck with over two lengths to the third placed Loud (Jacob Stiff, $11).
Racing in career best form, the six-year-old mare Mean Girls had been a last start winner at Narromine after placings at Coonabarabran, Wellington and Gilgandra.
Collecting $8,300 for the cup win, Mean Girls (by Super One from Music Media) now has a career record of five wins and 16 minor placings from 44 starts, accumulating $92,300 in prize money for connections.
Gilgandra trainer Hazelton had earlier won with Dao Sun which was very well ridden by apprentice Nick Hyde in the 1000 metres Benchmark 45 Handicap ($12,000).
Dao Sun ($4) had a charmed run behind the leaders and eventually scored by a half-length from Adviser (Billy Cray, $2.80 favourite) and Barcoo River (Jake Pracey-Holmes, $5).
Picking up $6400 for connections, Dao Sun (by Star Witness from Kiss the Sun) now has five wins and two seconds from 19 starts. The seven-year-old gelding and has won $53,950 in prize money.
Former international rugby league star Terry Fahey is now a trainer at Dubbo and he was a popular winner of the 1200 metres Fitzgerald Cup Maiden Handicap with Ternini.
Trailing Capricious Belle and Firefinch in to the straight, Ternini ($3.40) under strong riding from Andrew Banks won by a short head from French Harp (Jake Pracey-Holmes, $3.50) while Firefinch (Izzy Neale, $2.30 to $2.10 favourite) made it 10 placings from 17 starts when a long neck away third.
The powerful riding of Andrew Banks was also an important factor when Spicy Margherita won the 1500 metres Greenhalgh Cup Maiden Plate.
Trained at Coonabarabran by Graeme Brooker, Spicy Margherita ($4 equal favourite) overhauled I Am Smiling (Izzy Neale, $4 equal favourite) to get home by a short head with Conversations (Zoe Hunt, $7.50) finishing third.
The lightly raced four-year-old gelding Chicken Legs has now won three races from four starts after taking out the 800 metres Class Two Handicap for Armidale trainer Jane Clement.
Put in a handy position by Billy Cray, Chicken Legs ($4 favourite) finished best to beat the leader Smart ‘N’ Ritzy (Andrew Banks, $7.50) and Zillions (Ken Dunbar, $4.80).
Punters went home happy when the heavily backed Akauwheo from the Geoff O’Brien stable at Quirindi, won the final event, the 1500 metres McGirr Family Hotels-JJ McGirr Silver Horseshoe Class Two Handicap. Akauwheo (Jake Pracey-Holmes, $2.10 to $1.80 favourite) led by three lengths going down the back and lasted to win in a close finish from Shamister (Jacob Stiff, $4.20) coming from last, and Satashi (Kath Bell-Pitomac, $17).
