Western racing review: Tomingley

Connie Greig and Sydney-based jockey Leandro Ribeiro have been dominant during the picnic racing season and at the previous start Gossip had won the Ardlethan Picnic Cup.

Travelling in fourth position at Tomingley, Gossip ($1.80 favourite) reeled in the leader Alpha Lane (Anaelle Gangotena, $4) and won by over a length with Chuck’N’Paul (Wayne Wheatley, $4.40) three lengths away third. Ashley Gibson from Dubbo achieved his first win as a trainer when grey gelding Zurbaran won the 1500 metres Class B Handicap.

“Dad would be very pleased with the win,” said Ashley Gibson, who was referring to his late father Allan Gibson, for many years a successful trainer at Dubbo.

Leandro Ribeiro saved valuable ground when racing on the rails and Zurbaran ($3.20) sprinted through a gap to beat the fast finishing Distant Promise (Will Stanley, $4) and Kallie (Dylan Stanley, $1.80 favourite) which raced near the lead.

While trainer Clint Lundholm was at Royal Randwick with Amulet Street, the third placegetter in the $500,000 Country Championship Final, he was represented at Tomingley by In The Road in the 800 metres Class two Trophy Handicap. Moderately away, In The Road (Will Stanley, $1.80 favourite) quickly moved through the field and was a convincing winner from Magic Smile (Dylan Stanley, $6) and Guiltless (Leandro Ribeiro, $2.50).

Formerly racing in Victoria, with the most recent performances being unplaced runs in 3500 metres hurdle races, Scriba at the first start for new trainer Geoff O’Brien at Quirindi, was a surprise winner of the 1150 metres Class three Trophy Handicap at Tomingley.

Finishing fast, Scriba (Wayne Wheatley, $7.50) overhauled My Shiromi (Will Stanley, $4.40) and Twice The Value (Dylan Stanley, $2.40 equal favourite) in the closing stages.

In the placings several times, the Denis Consadine, Gulgong-trained Keep No Secrets broke through for a well-deserved win in the 1150 metres Maiden Plate.

Given a good run close to the leader by Ricky Blewitt, Keep No Secrets ($2 equal favourite) cleared out to win by over four lengths from Winnsom (Leandro Ribeiro, $2 equal favourite) and Nobby (Dylan Stanley, $3). Owned by the Loftus and Fyfe families from Tullibigeal, and trained by Kylie Kennedy at Narromine, Scruff’s Magic (Emily Waters, $4) led most of the way to win the opening event, the 800 metres Maiden Plate, from Pippie Star (Ricky Blewitt, $2.20) and Modify (Leandro Ribeiro, $1.80 favourite).

Tomingley attracted a big crowd with betting turnover well up on recent years.