Zouoligist wins Diggers Cup at Narromine on Thursday

Building on a good record in central west feature races, Tara and Philippe Vigouroux who train in partnership at Hawkesbury, won the 1300 metres Narromine USMC Diggers Cup on Thursday, April 20 at Narromine with Zouoligist. Runner-up to Hit The Target in the 2020 Soldiers Saddle at Bathurst, Zouoligist then won the 2021 Soldiers Saddle and the Vigouroux stable won the race again in 2022 with Lemaire. Ridden at Narromine by Ben Looker, Zouoligist ($6.50) led for home from Ferus and Foreign Brother and then staved off a challenge from Hit The Rim (Brooke Stower, $6) to win by a long neck with Deel Street (Ken Dunbar, $26) powering to the line from a long way back to finish third.

Ben Looker completed a double the next race on the Clint Lundholm, Dubbo trained Raging Rush which is raced by several committee members of Wellington Race Club. Fifth in the Country Championship Qualifier at Coonamble two starts prior, Raging Rush ($3.80 to $2.90 favourite) settled behind the leaders in the 1100 metres Three Rivers Machinery Class Three Handicap at Narromine and finished best to account for Gold Counter (Brooke Stower, $41) and Driving Force (Grant Buckley, $5).

Narromine trainer Wayne Collison who won with $15 chance Luckyimwithaimee at Warren recently, had another long odds winner Sister’s Pick at his home track in the 1100 metres CAD Contracting Maiden Plate. Bred by Wally Prout from Gilgandra and raced by the winning trainers wife Robyn Douglas, Sister’s Pick led to the home turn where the favourite Din drew alongside. Din (Chelsea Hillier, $2.40) veered wide and raced greenly while Sisters Pick (Jake Pracey- Holmes, $51) raced away to score by over two lengths with Pants On Fire (Ronald Simpson, $5) a head away third.

Jake Pracey-Holmes is riding in great form and the other legs of a treble, My Mirka ($15) for Mudgee trainer David Smith and the Michael Lunn, Dubbo trained Charlotting ($3.30 fav.) both led all the way. Former Queensland galloper Mishani Vandal is going well for Dubbo trainer Cindy Monaghan with two recent wins including the 1300 metres QUBE Agri Country Boosted Benchmark 50 Handicap at Narromine.

Well ridden by apprentice Ronald Simpson, Mishani Vandal ($10 to $5.50) came from midfield to win by over two lengths from Oh No Bro (Jake Pracey-Holmes, $12) and the leader Searchlight (Shayleigh Ingelse, $16). Wyong trainer Damien Lane, formerly from Coonamble, helped punters get off to a good start when Jacky Dee (Patrick Scorse, $2.70 to $2.25 fav.) after sharing the lead won the 1100 metres Aqua West Maiden Plate from Vanoureuce (Ronald Simpson, $3.40) and Decaulette (Jake Pracey- Holmes, $7).