Sport
27 October, 2026
News Bound Delivers Headline Win
Speedy mare News Bound wrote her own headlines when she was an impressive winner at Coona.
By Colin Hodges
Raced at Coonabarabran, Sunday, October 25.
From unwanted longshot to punters favourite has been the rise in status this campaign for the Natalie Pearce, Dubbo-trained News Bound, an impressive winner on Sunday, October 25 at Coonabarabran.
News Bound was a $71 rank outsider when a fast finishing winner at Mudgee and after an unplaced run at Narromine again started at long odds ($31) when arriving late on the scene to win in a five way photo finish at Coonamble.
In the 1400 metres Edwards Air Conditioning and Refrigeration-Daikin-Showcase Benchmark 66 Handicap at Coonabarabran, News Bound as the $4.40 favourite had Kody Nestor in the saddle and after racing in a more forward position swept to the lead in the straight for a convincing win from Tiger Town (Nick Heywood, $18) and Marnoo (Serg Lisnyy, $4.80).
Brett and Katrina Bowman from Coonabarabran not only sponsored the race but also won the 1400 metres Bowman Racing Class One Showcase Handicap with Miners Mate.
Third leg of a winning treble for jockey Clayton Gallagher, the Lyle Chandler, Scone-trained Miners Mate ($3.60 favourite) led most of the way to beat Russian Escape (Luke Rolls, $5.50) and the Wayne Martyn, locally trained Justo’s Rocket (Jake Pracey-Holmes, $5).
Clayton Gallagher was in the green and white hoops Bowman Racing colours on the Peter Bloomfield, Scone-trained Mia Amore when winning the opening race, the 900 metres Coonabarabran Bakery Maiden Showcase Plate.
From a nice position, Mia Amore ($4.20) broke clear and won by a length from Fratianno (Luke Rolls, $3.40 favourite) with three lengths to Little Bubbles (Mikayla Weir, $9) which had led for home.
The Brett Robb, Dubbo-trained Talakai ($2.60 favourite) settled near the tail of the field before being switched to the outside by Clayton Gallagher and charging home to win the 1600 metres Barron’s Tyre and Mechanical Class Three Showcase Handicap from Coella (Luke Rolls, $7) and Delrico (Gabrielle Johnston, $14).
Prominent north coast jockey Luke Rolls gave the Sue Grills, Tamworth-trained Little Duke ($10) a charmed run behind the leaders before finishing best to win the 1200 metres Phong Nguyen Memorial Super Maiden Handicap from Dirty Dani (Jake Pracey-Holmes, $3.70 equal favourite) and Hollywood Hunk (Shannen Llewellyn, $19).
Coonabarabran attracted a big crowd and it was unfortunate due to a fierce storm and rain the meeting was abandoned with the last three races including the $75,000 Imperial Hotel Coonabarabran Showcase Cup over 1600 metres still to be run.
Raced at Mudgee, Saturday, October 24.
Bill Peyto, the younger of two veteran gallopers in the seven-horse field, won the final event on Saturday at Mudgee for Mendooran trainer Jane Clement.
Leading until entering the home straight was the Armidale trained 10-year-old Nature Boy which was having the 150th start and with a record of 16 wins and 34 placings.
Bold Tyrant (Ken Dunbar, $10) then took the lead but was overhauled and beaten nearly a length by Bill Peyto (Gabrielle Johnston, $3.60) with Torpedo Ted (Jacob Stiff, $8) over three length away third, while Nature Boy battled on for fourth in the 2000 metres John Fleming Benchmark 50 Handicap.
Coming from the back of the field, the nine-year-old Bill Peyto was very well ridden by apprentice Gabrielle Johnston and now has the record of 10 wins and 33 placings from 119 starts.
Bathurst trainer Dean Mirfin and Dubbo based apprentice Jacob Stiff combined to win the opening race, the 1100 metres Pink Up Mudgee Benchmark 50 Handicap with Giovanna Star.
The big crowd saw Giovanna Star ($4.80) swoop on the outside from well back to beat Ilikesooboogie (Kody Nestor, $8) and Adviser (Gabrielle Johnston, $7.50).
Following his win with Deodee at Narromine last week, Mudgee trainer David Smith won the 1200 metres Coates Hire Class One Handicap with Spring Prospect (Gabrielle Johnston, $6) which led throughout to beat Archaic Force (Mikayla Weir, $3.10 favourite) and Fortians (Jack Baker, $14).
The other winners at Mudgee were the Sally Torrens, Gunnedah-trained Lost Flowers (Anna Weatherlake, $3 favourite) and Just One Look (Kody Nestor, $7.50) trained at Wyong by John Cooper.
