Sport
4 May, 2025
Western Racing Report - ANZAC Day Races at Bathurst
Raced - Bathurst, ANZAC Day, April 25, 2025
A long held ambition for Dean Mirfin was realised when the local trainer won the 1400 metres Bathurst RSL Club Soldiers Saddle on ANZAC Day with the promising young galloper Just A Good Fellow. At the trophy presentation, Mirfin told the very big crowd he had achieved placings in the past and was thrilled to finally win the flagship event.
Overall it was a memorable day for the long time successful trainer as he landed a treble, his other winners being Tom Vegas and Giovanni Star, both at big odds.
The three-year-old gelding Jolly Good Fellow came to Dean Mirfin from Sydney stables as a Maiden class performer but with good reports from the owners.
First up for Mirfin, Jolly Good Fellow won at Orange however was facing a significant challenge when taking on much more experienced and better performed class four horses at Bathurst.
With a skilful ride by Mikayla Weir, Jolly Good Fellow ($7) was impressive when leading throughout to win by over a length from the strong finishing Acheson (Rebecca Bronett, $13) and Florino (Donovan Dillon, $3.70).
Springing an upset, the Dean Mirfin-trained debut maker Tom Vegas at $51 and with Donovan Dillon in the saddle, gained an inside side run halfway down the straight to sprint home nearly two lengths clear of Gilette (Chad Lever, $3.60 to $2.90 favourite) and So Rebellious (Clayton Gallagher, $17) in the 1100 metres The Grind-Gold Nugget Two Year Old Handicap.
Completing the Dean Mirfin treble, Giovanni Star (Donovan Dillon, $21) was close to the lead in the 1200 metres Town and Country Rural Supplies Class One Handicap before finishing best to beat His Honour (Pierre Boudvillain, $13) and Wasted Days (Shayleigh Ingelse, $15).
Bathurst stables were off to a bright start when youthful trainer Angus Stewart won the 1100 metres Kennards Hire Maiden Plate with his three-year-old chestnut filly Joy Of The World.
Formerly from South Africa, jockey Donovan Dillon landed the first leg of a treble when Joy Of The World ($1.70 favourite) led for home then cleared out to win by almost six lengths from Carrick (Clayton Gallagher, $4.80) and Polens (Glenn Cahill, $21).
A field of smart sprinters contested the 1100 metres Lion Nathan-Bill Aspros Cup and it was the Mark Jones, Mudgee-trained Life’s A Party (Grant Buckley, $4) overhauling Outback Angel (John Kissick,$3.20 to $2.90 favourite) and Castlebar Road (Jordan Quince, $10) for a close win.
