Sport
29 April, 2026
Western Racing Report - Nyngan's ANZAC Cup and Narromine's Diggers Cup
Western Racing Report by Colin Hodges
Nyngan - ANZAC Day, April 25, 2026
Nine-year-old grey gelding Toulon Factor, the overall winner of 13 races, has won five times since September, the latest being on Saturday in the 1400 metres Nyngan RSL ANZAC Cup.
Taken straight to the front by apprentice Gabrielle Johnston, the Jane Clement, Mendooran-trained Toulon Factor ($2.80 to $2.50 favourite) established a close to 10 lengths lead and cruised home by over seven lengths from Bobby’s Secret (Georgina McDonnell, $8) and Casterly Rock (Liam Blanch, $3.50).
After successive wins at Lightning Ridge and Dubbo, the Jane Clement trained Adviser completed the hat trick in the 900 metres Nyngan Toyota and Neill Earthmoving Benchmark 58 Handicap.
Always close to the front, Adviser (Gabrielle Johnston, $3 favourite) won by almost a length from Pattera (Georgina McDonnell, $3.80) and the leader Callie Cool (Serg Lisnyy, $3.20).
The third leg of a treble for Gabrielle Johnston proved popular with the locals in the big crowd when Nyngan trainer Greg O’Nielle led in the winner Our Celebrity.
Third to the hometurn in the 1100 metres Aeris Resources-Tritton Class One Handicap, Our Celebrity ($12) broke clear to win by over three lengths from another Nyngan galloper, the Wendy Peel-trained and ridden, Dodge The Dark ($8 to $3.50) and Dusty Vermeer (Angela Cooper, $12)
Winner of the 900 metres Nyngan Golf Club Maiden Plate, the Troy McCarney bred, owned and trained Jimmy’s Choice, is a close relation of champion galloper Alligator Blood, the winner of 15 races including seven at group one level and earner of over $8 million prize money.
Owned and trained by Troy McCarney, Sophie’s Choice won a Maiden Handicap at Bourke before retirement to stud where she produced Jimmy’s Choice.
Some years later when a new star emerged in Australian racing, came the realisation Sophie’s Choice is a half sister to Alligator Blood, both being from the mare Lake Superior.
The now five-year-old entire Jimmy’s Choice was sired by Great Choice, a talented galloper with 5 wins during a short career interrupted by injuries and eventually being retired for stud duties at the Gulgong property of his trainer Brett Thompson.
Near the lead turning for home at Nyngan, Jimmy’s Choice (Liam Blanch, $7 edged away to score by a half neck from Blazing Courage (Jordan Quince, $2.10 favourite) and My Boy Lollipop (Wendy Peel, $10).
Making it a winning Nyngan double for trainer Troy McCarney, Mr Gunna Do (Zoe Hunt, $1.80 favourite) wore down Pluck ‘N’ Spy (Georgina McDonnell, $4.40) to win by a long neck with Frosty The Showman (Liam Blanch, $2.40) third in the 1400 metres Kevin Miller/Whitty/Lennon and Co. Maiden Plate.
Non claiming apprentice Zoe Hunt brought up her double when Pontoon Prince ($3) trained by Clint Lundholm for Chris Foyster from Dubbo led throughout to beat Brave Enough (Gabrielle Johnston, $2.60 favourite) and Zephyr Wings (Dylan Stanley, $8) in the 1200 metres Inland Petroleum Benchmark 45 Handicap.
Narromine - Sunday, April 26, 2026
With plans mapped out for a start in the Dubbo Cup to be run in September, the Brett Robb-trained Micro Mikki will now go for a short spell after beating a handy field on Sunday in the 1300 metres Narromine USMC Diggers Cup.
An excellent third in the recent $150,000 WRA Country Championship Qualifier at Dubbo, Micro Mikki again had Clayton Gallagher in the saddle at Narromine and started the $1.50 to $1.30 favourite.
In a good spot from the outset, Micro Mikki responded to some pressure from Gallagher halfway down the straight and moved past a tenacious Stockholm (Mikayla Weir, $7) to win by a long neck while Turgenev (Ashleigh McCabe, $12) ran on well for third.
Brett Robb was pleased with the performance of the two-year-old Rubelin when beating older horses in the 1100 metres Australian Lighthorse Maiden Plate.
A creditable sixth in the Wellington Boot, Rubelin (Izzy Neale, $1.24 favourite) led all the way to beat Sibeila (Zoe Hunt, $11) and Raygun Rocks (Liam Blanch, $21) by over three lengths at Narromine.
Recently granted a dual trainer-jockey licence, Kody Nestor was seen in his new role when riding Territory Style, a horse he trains, to victory in the 1100 metres Narromine Shire Maiden Plate.
Backed from $1.90 to $1.50 favourite, Territory Style was given a charmed run on the rails before taking the lead and winning by over a length from the strong finishing Moon Dart (Mikayla Weir, $12) and Northern Exposue (Nick Palmer, $10).
Forbes trainer Melissa Harrison has her team going well and Strassman made it successive wins when taking out the 1600 metres Narromine Hardware Class One and Maiden Plate.
Strassman (Clayton Gallagher, $3.10 favourite) raced in third position before hitting the lead and holding off The Bentley (Izzy Neale, $3.80) and Himeros (Gabrielle Johnston, $7.50).
Resuming from a spell, the Michael Mulholland-trained Turbulent ( Grant Buckley, $17) came from near last to win the 1100 metres Three Rivers Machinery BM 58 Handicap from Line Of Law (Jordan Quince, $19) and Trummpy Dumpty (Mikayla Weir, $16) to give Grant Buckley a double after his earlier win on the Rod Northam trained $7 chance Smart Scud.
Another Dubbo galloper resuming from a spell was the Paul Clisby-trained Rolled Gold (Jacob Stiff, $12) which produced a strong finish down the outside from midfield to beat Cheap Shot (Clayton Gallagher, $5.50) and Kelilah (Mikayla Weir, $9) in the 1300 metres QUBE Agri BM 50 Handicap.
