It could have almost been a photo finish for first when the leaders passed the post in the $15,000 Ray Boden Painting Class 1 at Wellington yesterday but only one horse had a rider.
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Isabelle Rose claimed the win, with the unstoppable Greg Ryan in the saddle, while Banrokka ran the entire race without jockey Michael Travers, who was lying back on the start line with an injured shoulder after being thrown off.
On his unrestrained run, Banrokka caused his fair share of havoc, not least to his trainer, Wagga Wagga-based Trevor Sutherland.
Sutherland's other runner Lightning Alert was in contention for the win until he was badly checked by Banrokka just 250 metres short of the finish line.
He would hold on for third, three-and-a-half lengths behind the winner and just half a length behind second-placed Coming Or Not.
There were no such troubles for Isabelle Rose, who was able to get out clear from the start, despite needing to be blindfolded before being led into the barriers. She wasted no trouble getting out of them and was untouched by anyone until Banrokka's late-race riderless charge. Despite riding side-by-side the pair didn't clash, allowing the four-year-old mare to get her second win in nine starts.
It was a welcome homecoming for her trainer, Allan Kehoe, who is now based at Wyong but was once a regular at tracks around the state's central and far west.
"It's always good to come home," he said after the win.
"We went to Bathurst the other day. I don't get back too often with work, we are generally flat out. It's nice to come home, the kids are out here so it's good to see them.
"It was a good win. It wasn't the toughest race but a win's a win."
Kehoe said Isabelle Rose's second at Mudgee earlier this month had him confident of the win and could see him delay plans to spell her.
"We'll see how she pulls up. I was going to put her away but if she pulls up OK we might try and get one more out of her, maybe look at Coonamble or something. There is a class 2 at Coonamble and that's where we are from so that would be a good one."
The trainer believes the Ad Valorem x Whitta Brinna progeny can continue to get wins if she is placed correctly in races.
Travers was taken to Dubbo Hospital by ambulance and replacement jockeys were found for the rest of his rides yesterday. He suffered bruising but was cleared of any serious injury and was discharged yesterday afternoon.