Raced at Wellington on Tuesday, May 13
Well-prepared by local trainer Jim McMillan for a significant increase in distance, Naval Officer charged home to win the OTL Class One and Maiden Plate last Tuesday, May 13 at Wellington. Previous races contested had been no further than 1400 metres however, the four-year old gelding Naval Officer handled the step up to 1700 metres in most impressive fashion.
Patiently ridden by Mathew Cahill, Naval Officer ($4.40 to $3.90) settled near the tail of the 12 horse field before unleashing a powerful finishing burst to win running away by almost two lengths from Instead (Zoe Hunt, $13) and Crown Legend (Chad Lever, $9.50).
Naval Officer was strongly supported in betting transactions but it was a different story regarding the other winner ridden by Mathew Cahill as Nebida started a rank outsider in the 1000 metres LSS Locksmith and Security Country Boosted Maiden Plate. Debut maker Outlaw Annie (Tilly McCarroll, $4.80 to $4.40) took the lead in the straight and looked the winner until the Brett Thompson-trained Nebida ($71) flashed along the inside rail to score by a head with Kobold (Mikayla Weir, $17) two lengths away third.
Anther outsider to win was the Dar Lunn, Dubbo trained Daredevil in the 1100 metres Wellington Soldiers Memorial Club Benchmark 66 Handicap.
Given a nice run behind the leaders, Daredevil (Olivia Chambers, $19) hit the front halfway down the straight and in a close finish won from Invasive (Mikayla Weir, $14) and Cumboogle (Zoe Hunt, $3.90).
Since coming from stables in Victoria to Dubbo trainer Brett Robb, the lightly raced Micro Mikki has won the only two starts, the latest being in the 1100 metres KFC Class One Handicap at Wellington.
Midfield early, Micro Mikki (Clayton Gallagher, $4.20) took control in the straight and won by nearly two lengths from the leader Joy Of The World (Donovan Dillon, $9.50) and the fast finishing Myalaby (Olivia Chambers, $61).
