General News
24 June, 2025
Western Racing Report - Bathurst and Mudgee
Bathurst (Thursday, June 19) and Bligh Picnics at Mudgee (Saturday, June 14)
Bathurst - raced Thursday, June 19
Reece Jones, now a group one winning jockey based in Sydney, served much of his apprenticeship with Rod Northam and he reunited with the Scone trainer to land a double on Speedy Henry and Grandini on Thursday at Bathurst.
Unplaced when a $1.45 favourite at Dubbo, Speedy Henry ($1.85 to $2.15 favourite)was given a charmed run behind the leading trio at Bathurst before racing to a two lengths win over Navios (Rebecca Bronett Prag, $7) and His Honour (Pierre Boudvillain, $12) in the 1200 metres Winning Post Signage Opportunity Class Two Plate.
In the following race the 1400 metres Class One Handicap Grandini settled midfield while Drawn Fours established an eight lengths lead heading down the back section of the Tyers Park track.
Finishing well, Grandini (Reece Jones, $3.50 favourite) scored by a half length from Never Bird (Clayton Gallagher, $6) and Stonegate Lane (Holly Durnan, $5.50).
Melissa Harrison as the trainer of a good size team recently transferred to Forbes and On The Decs became her first winner since the move.
Steadily making ground from near last early, On The Decs edged past the leading pack in the straight with Interventionist emerging from the tail of the field with a spirited challenge.
Refusing to yield, On The Decs (Mikayla Weir, $26) in an exciting finish won by a short half head from Interventionist (Ken Dunbar, $11) with Straight Fire (Jean Van Overmeire, $4.20 favourite) in third place.
Apprentice jockey Ryan Bradley (21) has endured an injury interrupted career and he was relieved to be back in action and riding a winner at Bathurst in the 1100 metres Benchmark 58 Handicap.
Aboard the Anthony Mountney, Kembla Grange trained Vis I Do ($3.20 to $2.80 favourite) Ryan Bradley waited for the cutaway at the top of the straight then took the rails run to sprint to a convincing win from Choice Deel (Mathew Cahill, $8) and All Astern (Kody Nestor, $3.70).
The other winners were Graceful Ellen (Claire Ramsbotham, $1.85 favourite), Big Papa, Robbie Downey, $1.50 to $1.35 fav.) and Lady Felina Jan Van Overmeire, $14 to $20).
Bligh Picnics at Mudgee - raced Saturday, June 14
With her sole starter at Mudgee on Saturday, leading trainer Connie Greig from Dubbo, won the Bligh Picnic Cup with the six-year-old chestnut mare Allande. Leandro Ribeiro, the main rider for Connie Greig on the picnic circuit, was at his best on Allande which he had also ridden to victory two starts prior in the 1600 metres Moree Picnic Cup.
Stepping up to 1850 metres at Bligh, Allande was allowed to settle in a rearwards position while Bossa Nova Lad established a four lengths lead over the eight-horse field.
Reaching the lead in the straight, Allande ($2.60) held on gamely to win by almost a length from former Queensland galloper Jetpack Verdi (Todd Bailey, $8) which fought on well, while a close third was Boys Cry (Tamsin Gough, $13).
Allande is now high on the point score qualifying ladder for the $50,000 Picnic Championship Final to be held at Dubbo in October.
Riding for his partner Muswellbrook trainer Julia Presits, Leandro Ribeiro had earlier won the 1400 metres Merotherie Handicap on Avoid Me.
Winner of the Tomingley Cup in April, Avoid Me ($2.70) was given a nice run behind Pappiana and Loud at Bligh before clearing out to score by over four lengths from Loud (Zara Lewis, $8) and Cheeky Secrets (Paul Zerafa, $4.60). Sidelined for much of the season after being injured at trackwork, Narromine-based Ricky Blewitt is back in action and following a winning treble at Mallawa Picnics he won the 1100 metres Class B Handicap at Bligh on Mean Girls.
Owned by the Gilgandra Jockey Club president Jason Tate and trained by Kieren Hazelton, Mean Girls ($2.20) led throughout when beating Too Casual (Todd Bailey, $7) and Cooma Hut (Arthur Pollock, $1.80 favourite).
Second leg of a winning double for Gilgandra trainer Kieren Hazelton was Lockdown Lad, a $19 outsider in the 900 metres Inglis Rural Property-Havilah Handicap.
Lockdown Lad (Paul Zerafa) hit the lead in the straight and was a two-lengths winner over Cosmic Ride (Arthur Pollock, $2.50 favourite) and War Wings (Sarah Curtis, $8).
Sarah Curtis (39), a former jockey in the professional ranks who joined the picnic circuit last year after. a lengthy time away from racing, won the 1000 metres Birkalla Bracelet-Collaroy Cup at Bligh on the Holly Williams, Tamworth-trained Rivaldo
Artieos led by five lengths in the run to the home turn however, it was Rivaldo ($4.40) finishing best to beat Hermosa Rosa (Leandro Ribeiro, $2.70 favourite) and The Defiant One (Tamsin Gough, $9).
