Dubbo trainers almost seemed certain to score a win in Tuesday’s LJ Hooker Bathurst Class 1 Handicap (1808m) at Tyers Park but it wasn’t to be.
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Of the 10 horses which lined up at the Bathurst track six of those were trained at Dubbo.
It was Warwick Farm-based Mark de Montfort who was left cheering after Biscuit charged late to steal victory in a photo finish from Gacela, trained at Wyong by Ben Hill.
Royal Abbey was third for Orange’s Michael Plummer while the best of the Dubbo chances was Moralto, trained by Connie Greig, which was fourth.
Winning trainer de Montfort couldn’t have been happier with the win while victorious jockey Rachael Murray was also thrilled, being all too aware how tricky the five-year-old gelding has been.
“Mark said the horse will go really well today and I appreciate his judgement because he’s clever and that horse is not easy at all,” she told Sky Thoroughbred Central after the win.
“We’ve had a rotten time with him just because of how difficult he is in track work and in races but today he was a completely different horse and raced really true. Even when we got into a bit of trouble around the 700m, he overcame it.”
It was a long time coming for Biscuit with Tuesday being his first win in the 27th start of his career.
Another horse to enjoy a breakthrough win at Bathurst was Ikaba, a newcomer to the stables of Hawkesbury trainer Brad Widdup.
The three-year-old has made only two starts Widdup since coming across from Gerald Ryan’s Rosehill stables, but he’s quickly made a positive impression.
Sent out at short $2 odds for the Carpet Court Maiden Plate (1108 metres), Ikaba surged ahead on the Bathurst home straight to win by a length over a fast-finishing Foxy Queen ($4.60).
Foreman for the winning Platinum Park stable, John Keegan, said there’s still more success to come for the Red Element x Schuckmannsburg gelding.
“He was pushed at the end but he’s got plenty up his sleeve. There’s still plenty of improvement to come off that,” he said, Christian Reith piloting Ikaba to victory.
“We brought him here today after his first up run, where he was caught a little wide. He hit the line well so we thought today would be a good race for him.
“He did everything we expected of him. He’s been working well at home. Christian is well aware of the horse because he rides him in work as well.
“With barrier one Christian was always going to be able to get him forward. He was riding like he had the best horse in the race and that worked out well.”
Keegan said Widdup hasn’t looked into Ikaba’s long-term plans yet.