Washed out in August, the Three Rivers Machinery Case IH Narromine Gold Cup was run and won on Sunday by the Mack Griffith, Mudgee-trained Jessandi. Before a good crowd at Narromine, Zounile rushed around the nine-horse field in the early stages of the 1600 metres cup to lead from Lockdown Gamble, Sea Of Flames, and Vincenzo with Jessandi given a nice run in fifth position by leading apprentice Braith Nock.
Jessandi ($14) pounced on the leading pack in the straight and won by over a length from Lockdown Gamble (Aaron Bullock, $2.70 favourite), Vincenzo (Ella Drew, $3.60), and recent Moree and Coonabarabran Cup winner Macleay.
Talented apprentice Shannen Llewellyn, who rode Macleay, had a winning treble at Narromine, with Charlie Magic, Threetimesalady, and Grins. Owned by David Ringland and partners, the Brett Robb-trained Charlie Magic ($2.35 favourite) gained an inside run to account for Hard To Impress (Jake Pracey-Holmes, $3.50) and Avonlee (Georgina McDonnell, $4.80) in the 800 metres Narromine USMC Maiden Plate.
Debut maker Penrose, in a betting plunge, was backed from $40 to $7 but after looking a winning chance when joining the lead entering the home straight, finished fourth.
Shannen Llewellyn then won the 1300 metres QUBE Agri Benchmark 58 Handicap on Threetimesalady ($5.50 equal favourite) for Newcastle trainer John Bannister and completed her treble on the Ross Lomax, Mudgee-trained Grins in the 1100 metres Alan Lloyd Memorial Class One Handicap. Rockin’ Edition and Taormina Sailor set the pace, with Grins ($3.60 to $3.20) from fourth finishing fast out wide under Shannen Llewellyn to beat Romantic Love (Kody Nestor, $3 fav.) by a short half head, while Allande (Mikayla Weir, $21) was a close third.
Raced by Colleen Dwyer, Peter Dwyer, and partners, the Scott Singleton, Scone-trained Bush Telegraph with mature-age apprentice Ella Drew in the saddle won the 1600 metres Douglas Egan Memorial Benchmark 58 Handicap. Positioned close to the leading group, Bush Telegraph ($14) prevailed in a close finish from Ain’t She Swell (Siena Grima, $13) and Open Pearly Gates (Aaron Bullock, $2.70 favourite).
Making it a good day for apprentice riders, Zoe Hunt brought the Clint Lundholm-trained Watch Me Rumble ($7.50) from further back than midfield to win the 1100 metres Narromine Hardware Country Boosted Benchmark 66 Handicap from Stratified (Jake Pracey-Holmes, $3.30 fav.) and Rubi Air (Mikayla Weir, $19).
Preventing a clean sweep by the apprentices, Chad Lever and Jake Pracey-Holmes won the other two races.
Placed six times from 14 starts, the Michael Mulholland-trained Infinite Prince (Chad Lever, $5.50) broke through to win the 1300 metres Narromine Rotary Club Maiden Plate when leading and then fighting off Grandini (Chelsea Hillier, $1.90 favourite) and Trust A Kitty (Braith Nock, $2.30).
Resuming from a spell, the Lou Mary, Scone-trained Arambys (Jake Pracey-Holmes, $2.50 to $2.10 favourite) was highly impressive when coming from a long way back to win the 1100 metres Courthouse Hotel Maiden Handicap from the leader Daffers (Dylan Stanley, $26) and Specula (Shayleigh Ingelse, $9).
