“Naoko has been unlucky on several occasions when making runs from the back of the field and today Ken Dunbar has found a good position close to the pace,” Greig explained.

Switched around the leader’s heels when heads turned for home, Naoko ($8 to $6) hit the front and held on to win the feature by a long neck from Getting Ready (Kath Bell-Pitomac, $15) with a half head to County Limerick (Josh Richards, $11).

Another Dubbo galloper returning to winning form was the Frank Hayes-trained Bow Tie Benny ridden by Tony Cavallo in the Parkes Services Club Benchmark 52 Handicap,1200 metres.

After racing outside the leader, Bow Tie Benny ($15) staved off Victorian visitor Keepcalmandcarryon (Tiffany Jeffries, $7) and Running Broke (Akira Kajiya, $7).

The first event, the P.J.L Group Maiden Plate (800m) saw an all the way win by the Robert Anderson-trained Heatherton (Josh Richards, $3.10) from Vulcain (Michael Heagney, $6) and Sissie’s Choice (MIchael Hackett, $2.70 favourite). 

Aaron Sweeney then won the Telescope Tyres & Batteries Class 1 Handicap (1000m) on the flash looking Bitofastar, a chestnut with four long white stockings and small white patch under the ribs.

Rain overnight and again on race morning failed to deter a huge crowd from attending and numbers were similar to last year’s meeting.