The scratching of Queen Isla from the opening race at Gilgandra was not the way Brett Thompson had hoped to start 2019.
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But the Gulgong trainer quickly turned it around with a double in the second, Moon Over Menah (Billy Cray) getting the better of Alotafox (Anthony Cavallo) in the Royal Hotel Maiden Handicap (800m).
The pair started as equal $2.50 favourites, with the barrier draws (one and six) proving the difference.
“Moon Over Menah I thought would win at Warren a couple of starts back, and the filly went up and got second and went better than him,” Thompson said.
“Today I really couldn’t split them but he had the better gate … she’s run a really bold race and got back but the gate cost her the win.”
It was a timely win for the three-year-old Zariz x Lovely Lunacy gelding, with owners Greg and Deborah Gundy almost ready to move on.
“They’ve had a pretty lean trot for a while but finally I’ve got another winner for them,” Thompson said.
“It looks like he’s kept himself going!”