Bow Tie Benny hoping for extra special maiden victory

While the $150,000 Country Championship Qualifier is the feature at Dubbo Turf Club on Sunday, the $40,000 Maiden Plate has also drawn much attention.

The increase pay for one maiden event during all of Racing NSW’s showcase meetings, where minimum prizemoney is at least $30,000, is a new initiative.

It gives trainers even more motivation to get that breakthrough victory and Hayes’ Bow Tie Benny is sure to be among the favourites come Sunday. The four-year-old is coming off a second-placed finish at Mudgee earlier this month.

That race was won by The Renovation Man, trained by Darren Hyde, who is now a reserve for the day’s $150,000 feature.

Bow Tie Benny faces a tough ask from wide out in barrier 16, with apprentice Kaylee Kirkwood to have the ride. Gayna Williams’ Western Parade will go even wider from barrier 18 with Allan Chau on board while Not For the Lord, trained by Lewis Seib and to be ridden by Rachael King, got a kinder draw and will line up in barrier two.

The day’s final event, the Benchmark 60 Handicap, also holds some interest with the likes of Iron Blue, Captain Scott and Shadow Affair all going head-to-head.

Iron Blue made the final of last year’s Country Championships for trainer Cameron Crockett while Shadow Affair is coming off a win at Mudgee.