DUBBO trainer Denise Sparkes only has three dogs in work but that didn’t stop her from tasting success with Not Now Nellie at Dawson Park on Thursday.
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Having just its second start, the Knocka Norris x Cotton Jenny bitch showed good fight to wear down second favourite McTiernan ($4.60) in the Bit Chili @ Stud Maiden (400m).
The Paul Meredith-trained McTiernan, also having its second start, jumped well from box one and led in the early stages but stalking it all the way was Not Now Nellie, which hooked to the outside on the home turn and ran away with win by three-quarters-of-a-length.
McTiernan finished second with Lorian Smiles ($5.70) a further one-and-a-quarter lengths away in third place.
The win was a reward for Sparkes’ patience as it had been two months since Not Now Nellie had made its race debut, finishing third behind Total Honour on that occasion.
“She hurt herself and had to have some time off but we have got her right and it was nice to see her win today,” Sparkes said.
“Glenn Smith bred her and owns her and both her and her brother are pretty strong dogs so when she was close to the lead today I knew she would be good at the end of her race.
“We’ll just bring her back here for another run. It’s obvious she will run 500m so we’ll give her another run or two and give her a crack at the 500m somewhere.