A WEEK after winning at Balranald in the far south west of New South Wales, the Russell Hogan-trained Dog Tags won the $7000 McDonalds Cowra Picnic Cup.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Narromine-based jockey Ricky Blewitt gave Dog Tags a great run behind the duelling pacemakers in the 1700m event.
Shooting for a hat-trick of Cowra Picnic Cup wins, veteran galloper Poker Pro became engaged in a speed battle with Change Of Pace and the $3.20 favourite Domuar Miss.
Hitting the front when the leaders weakened, Griffith-based Dog Tags ($4.60 out to $6) won by nearly two lengths from Supreme Laird (Michael Gray, $4.80) and Malone (Billy Owen, $8).
Bathurst trainers Kevin Higgins and Peter Stanley had success with Bird Of Night and Run Bullet Run respectively.
Higgins is renowned for improving poorly performed horses and Bird Of Night (Billy Owen, $8), after racing midfield, shot away to defeat Zizon's Dream (Ricky Blewitt, $2.30 favourite) and Crown Pearl (Samara Johnson, $4.20) by nearly four lengths in the Mulyan and Win Television Maiden Plate (950m).
Gaining an inside run, Run Bullet Run (Mark Webber, $3) took the lead the lead and held on to beat last-start Dubbo winner So Sure (Ricky Blewitt, $2.60 favourite) with Cadel's Luck (Teresa Nikora, $4.60) third in the Cowra Guardian and Cowra Services Club Open Handicap (1200m).
The first leg of a winning double for Billy Owen was Carbonendi in the Elders Class B Handicap (950m).
A newcomer to the George Wright stable at Parkes after racing in the Armidale area, Carbonendi ($3 favourite) reached the lead then withstood a spirited fightback by Silent Ale (Teresa Nikora, $17) to win by a head.
Coming from near last, Muzzleburst (Michael Gray, $5) finished third.
Other Cowra winners were Bonosa (Ashley Boyd, $3.50 favourite) from the Cootamundra stables of Tricia Anderson and Billesse (Michael Gray, $8), who is trained at Orange by Michael Plummer.
