Amy Rees was feeling positive about Colonel Shannon’s chances at Dubbo Paceway on Sunday afternoon and two scratching prior to the race boosted her confidence even further.
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Rees and the Peter Bullock-trained Colonel Shannon drew gate three for the Radio 2DU/Zoo FM Pace (1720m) but got to the lead easily following the scrtaching of the two inside runners, Close To The Sky and Womenwhiskyngold.
From there Rees was able to control the race and then push on late to score a comfortable 4.6m victory.
“I thought he’d be a good chance if he got in front and when the two inside us scratched I knew I’d be there,” Bathrst-based Rees said after the win.
“He’s better just running along so I just let him do it himself. He’s a pretty easy horse to drive.”
The win was the first in Colonel Shannon’s career, coming in start number eight for the two-year-old gelding.
Colonel Shannon ($3.10) got away well early and soon moved into the lead Mendoza Lass ($12.10) and Veryprettycreature ($32.20).
The well-favoured $1.70 favourite Lady Swiss, trained and driven by Bernie Hewitt, sat deeper in the field and the order changed little as they rounded and received the bell.
Colonel Shannon wasn’t setting a cracking pace up front but was still in control, while Lady Swiss continued to struggle to find a clear run.
It was Nathan Hurst and Write Time ($21.40) who made the biggest move and threatened as the field entered the straight but he faded and had to settle for third behind Colonel Shannon and the fast-finishing Alta Downs ($10.50).
“He’s pretty good and at the bell he was stargazing a little bit but when ‘Hursty’ came up and put some pressure on his mind went back on the job and he kept going,” Rees said.
Rees, fresh from a couple of winners in Queensland recently, guided Colonel Shannon to victory in a milerate of 2:00:4.
While the first event was a straightforward one, the second was anything but.
As the field rounded the bend for home in the Dubbo Ten Pin Bowl 3YO Pace (1720m), there was heavy contact between Im Ok and Rainbow Atomic came together, while Badgers Keep was also affected.
Nathan Turnbull, driving the latter, was dislodged from his gig and dragged down the track but escaped with nothing but a few grazes and bruises.
Badgers Keep failed to finish also while All About Lexy ($3.10) won the event.
Elsewhere in the meet, there were wins for hometown drivers Tom Pay and James Sutton.