Elson Boy wins Country Championship Qualifier – raced Sunday, March 17, 2024
A rock-hard fit and tenacious Elson Boy, in a thrilling finish won the $150,000 Newhaven Park WRA Country Championship Qualifier over 1400 metres, before a big crowd on Sunday at Coonamble. Trained at Dubbo by Dar Lunn for Guy Mitchell (Binnaway) and Rob Pratten (Dubbo), the four-year-old gelding Elson Boy had started six times during the current campaign, winning at Orange and twice at Dubbo.
Sent to the early lead in the 14 horse field by Sydney-based jockey Tommy Berry, Elson Boy held a half-length advantage over stablemate Pants On Fire when heads turned for home with Listen To The Band and Sizzle Minizzle close up while the favourite Gallant Star was winding up from midfield. Joined in front by Listen To The Band, Elson Boy ($11) fought back to win by a half-head from the strong finishing Gallant Star (Sam Clipperton, $1.60 favourite) with a head to the nine-year-old Listen To The Band (Jake Pracey-Holmes, $5) while Sizzle Minizzle (Shannen Llewellyn) held on well for fourth.
Elson Boy and the Brett Robb, Dubbo trained Gallant Star have now qualified for the $1,000,000 Newhaven Park Country Championship Final at Royal Randwick in April. Star jockey Tommy Berry had earlier won on Canamble for Wyong trainer Damien Lane and D’Oro Choice for Orange trainer Alison Smith.
Formerly from Coonamble, Damien Lane will set Canamble ($4) for the $200,000 Wellington Boot after the dashing win in the Prelude on Sunday. The other Tommy Berry winner, D’Oro Choice ($2.40) blitzed the field when leading throughout for a five-lengths win in the 1600 metres Class One and Maiden Plate.
Another high-profile jockey at Coonamble was Brisbane-based James Orman, who landed a double on the Cameron Crockett, Scone-trained pair Competition ($2.60 to $2.15 fav.) and Don’t Call Me Honey ($2.70 fav.).
Not content to let the city jockeys completely dominate the meeting, senior jockey Wendy Peel (Dubbo), and apprentices Will Stanley (Orange) and Braith Nock (Scone) booted home winners.
Given a good run behind the leaders by Wendy Peel, the Natalie Pearce, Dubbo trained Sports Page ($3.60) resumed from a spell to win the opening event, the 1100 metres Maiden Plate.
At the second run for Dubbo trainer Cindy Monaghan since coming from Queensland stables, Peony Surprise (Braith Nock, $5.50) wore down the leader Van Charlotte (Sam Clipperton, $4) to win by a short head with Mrs Bull (Mitch Stapleford, $3.20 fav.) third in the 1400 metres Inland Petroleum Super Maiden Showcase Plate.
Trained at Coonamble by Cec Hodgson, Dream Game produced a big performance to win the 1400 metres Nutrien AG Solutions Benchmark 58 Showcase Handicap. Dream Game (Will Stanley, $8.50) half reared at the start and came from a conspicuous last to beat Rouge Moulin (Shannen Llewellyn, $3.40) and Plenitude (James Orman, $3.40 to $2 favourite).
