RACING
By COL HODGES
A nine-year-old Maiden class mare and a 58-year-old jockey were cheered all the way down the straight and then returned to a boisterous ovation after winning on Saturday at Forbes.
As a seven-year-old when most racehorses are being retired, Jackets had her first race start in April 2024 and had since raced 12 times with two placings before the break through win in the 1200 metres BWR Accountants Maiden Plate.
More recently trained at Canberra by John Rolfe, Jackets is raced by first time owner Grahame Ruge, a Forbes council worker, and Matthew Robb, the son-in-law of Grahame and Judy Ruge.
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Winning jockey was Michael Heagney who for many years has ridden successfully in most states of Australia and recently returned after a stint in West Australia where he won the Roebourne Cup, the major race in the Pilbara region.
Given a good run behind the leaders, Jackets ($21) under strong riding by Michael Heagney finished best to win by a half neck from the Brett Robb trained stablemates Noterbel (Izzy Neale, $3.10) and Cool Nanczye (Caine Stuart, 16).
On course bookmakers incurred very heavy losses on the race and admitted being caught off guard by not being aware Jackets had local owners.
“I reckon half of Forbes must have turned up to back their mate's horse," lamented a leading central west bookmaker.
Another happy happening for local supporters when the Melissa Harrison trained Pattera won the 1200 metres Terry Bros. Carpet Court Benchmark 50 Handicap.
Formerly from Kembla Grange, Melissa Harrison came to Forbes earlier this year with a good size team and is a welcome addition to the local scene.
Part owned by Grenfell Picnic Race Club president Danny Kotel, Pattera was run down and beaten a nose at Grenfell and at Forbes, Pattera ($8.50) with apprentice Zoe Hunt in the saddle, again led and held on gamely to win by a length from the Dennis Bush, Forbes trained Lockadente (Mathew Cahill, $10) and Firestorm Boy (Jack Baker, $5.50).
Rarely does a horse start at $101 in a six-horse field let alone win the race, but such was the case when National Asset breezed home in the 1400 metres Ron Baker Switchboards Maiden Handicap.
Finishing last in a barrier trial and last again at debut at Leeton, the Jim Scobie, Gundagai trained National Asset starting officially at $91 but paying over $100 on the TAB was positioned behind the leader by the experienced Bradley Vale and overhauled Blarney Stone (Ashley Stanley, $7) to score by over a length with Flameon (Mathew Cahill, $4.80) a head away third.
At the start of a bad day for on course bookmakers, several bets of $505 to $5 were collected on National Asset.
Parkes jockey Michael Hackett who rode close to 300 winners before life threatening injuries in a 2019 race fall ended his career, is now the owner of Way To Divine, winner of the 1600 metres Forbes Livestock & Agency Co Benchmark 50 Handicap.
Overcoming the outside barrier in the 12 horse field, Way To Divine ($3.50 favourite) under promising apprentice Jacob Stiff, swept home from next to last to win running away by nearly 3 lengths from Shylock (Mathew Cahill, $6.50) and Hasime (Zoe Hunter, $8.50).
Jordan Quince is arguably the most improved apprentice in the central west and it was another good ride when she brought the Gayna Williams trained Kirk ($4.40) from fifth with an inside run to beat Kelilah (Zoe Hunt, $6) and Gustav (Bradley Vale, $5.50) in the 1400 metres Peter Maher Shearing Services Benchmatk 50 Handicap.
Back from injury, Clayton Gallagher combined with trainer Brett Robb to win the 1100 metres Shead & Nicholson Electrical Class 1 Handicap with Miss Karis ($3.40 equal favourite) which came from a long way back to account for Mihrimah (Jake Pracey-Holmes, $14) and Beauty Edge (Kody Nestor, $5.50).
Racing at Bathurst on Friday, Narromine on Saturday followed by Mudgee Saturday 25 October and Coonabarabran Cup Sunday 26 October.
