Darren Hyde has his eyes firmly set on one of the holiday period's most iconic events after a commanding showing at Bathurst on Monday.
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Circus Dancer, a newcomer to Hyde's stables, won on debut for the Dubbo trainer at Tyers Park and the Gilgandra Town Plate now beckons.
It was a hugely promising performance from the six-year-old mare in the Bathurst RSL Club Benchmark 58 Handicap (1100m) on Monday.
Formerly trained by Stephen Lenehan, Circus Dancer won at Bendigo less than two weeks ago but after a short lead-up in NSW she scored a one-length win at Bathurst after surging through the middle of the field in the straight.
"She's a nice mare, this one," a pleased Hyde told Sky Thoroughbred Central after the win.
"The win a Bendigo a fortnight or so ago had plenty of merit and I said ... if we could box seat in behind them she should be coming home all over the top of them and that's how it went.
"She's probably suited around the 1000 or 1100 and she'll probably head to Gilgandra for the Town Plate on cup day now."
That race is part of the busy festive racing period and will be run on January 5.
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The Town Plate is run over 1000m but the little extra distance made plenty of difference for Circus Dancer on Monday.
With Andrew Banks in the saddle, Circus Dancer got away well from gate one and rattled along the rails to settle in behind the zippy Just A Flash ($13) and Stralex ($4.20).
Circus Dancer and Entitlement ($5) battled for third as the leaders kicked clear while $4 favourite Demonize, trained at Wellington by Michael Mulholland, sat further back in the field of eight.
Stralex seemed the biggest threat to the leader as the field entered the straight, but Banks got Circus Dancer to liuft in the final 200m and she powered to a relatively comfortable victory.
"She pinged along really well," Banks said post-race.
"All things worked out pretty well. I had to give it a dig to get there and once I got there she traveled pretty well."
Hyde was the lone Dubbo winner at Monday's Bathurst meeting.
Clint Lundholm scored a second, as Good Time Charlie ($2.45) finished behind Brett Cavanough's Gem Dealer in the JB Concreting Country Class 2 Plate (1300m).
It was one of two wins for Scone-based Cavanough on the day.
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Nick Guthrie
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
