Sport
20 October, 2026
Western Racing Report: 'Kevin' Flies Family Flag
Four-year-old gelding Kevin kept the family flag flying for a famous connection at Narromine.
Raced at Narromine - Saturday, October 19, 2026
The four-year-old gelding Kevin kept the family flag flying when winning the 800 metres Bill Wilkie Memorial Benchmark 58 Handicap at Narromine.
Older half-brother and stablemate Gallant Star had finished unplaced in the $2,000,000 Kosciusko at Randwick before the Brett Robb, Dubbo trained Kevin ($2.40 favourite) ridden by apprentice Jasmine Urquhart-Warren led most of the way for a close win over Denman Force (Jacob Stiff, $2.60 favourite) and Divine Sinner (Zoe Hunt, $18).
David Ringland from Dubbo and former Test cricketer Kerry O’Keeffe are In the ownership of both Kevin and the top galloper Gallant Star.
Brett Robb had earlier won the 1300 metres Narromine USMC Maiden Plate with the Dr Bob Slack-Smith and Mrs Jean Slack-Smith owned and bred Tucklan (Clayton Gallagher, $3.10 favourite) which led all the way to win by over three lengths from Mega Missile (Jacob Stiff, $11) and Knights Templar (Zoe Hunt, $4).
A very good crowd was at Narromine to see the Lyle Chandler, Scone-trained Harriet win the feature event the QUBE Agri Dandy Cup, a Benchmark 50 Handicap over 1600 metres.
Patiently ridden by leading apprentice Jacob Stiff, Harriet ($3.00 favourite) came from last to beat Sellinya (Clayton Gallagher, $7.50) and Pickaxe (Nick Palmer, $14).
Dubbo based apprentice Zoe Hunt produced an outstanding ride to win the 1100 metres Chris and Dale Harding Christmas Surprise Benchmark 50 Handicap on the David Smith, Mudgee-trained Deodee.
From an outside barrier, Zoe Hunt allowed her mount to travel at the tail of the big field before she found an opening in the straight and Deodee ($8) burst through a wall of horses to beat Dodge The Dark (Wendy Peel, $6) and Ready For Lift Off (Jasmine Urqahart-Warren, $5.50) in a photo finish.
Prominent trainer Clint Lundholm from Dubbo, following a win at Coonamble last week with Media Spin, won the 1100 metres Western Plains Veterinary Service Maiden Plate with Best Defence.
Close to home, Best Defence (Jake Pracey-Holmes, $3.80) overhauled Moon Dart (Clayton Gallagher,$1.75 to $1.65 favourite) and No Defence (Jess Del Frari, $17).
In the final event, the 1300 metres Three Rivers Machinery Benchmark 50 Handicap, the Jane Clement, Mendooran trained Extreme Merger (apprentice Gabrielle Johnston,$4.20 favourite) with a late run down the outside won by a half-length from Justo’s Rocket (Kody Nestor, $12) and Rocky Rich (Clayton Gallagher, $4.80).
Amazing number sequence from Narromine
A poser for Lotto players and mathematicians as to the odds about the sequence of numbers following the running of the 800 metres Bill Wilkie Memorial Benchmark 58 Handicap on Saturday at Narromine.
Numbers one (Denman Bandit) and six (Broken Wings) were scratched and the field crossed the finishing line in race book order-2,3,4,5,7,8,9,10.
For the record, the horses and starting prices in finishing order were:-
Kevin ($2.40 favourite), Denman Force ($2.60), Divine Sinner ($18), Chicken Legs ($4.80). Swedish Glitter ($21), Emphatic Bell ($18), Smart ‘N’ Ritzy ($51), Box Of Crackers ($26).
