THE Bathurst voodoo curse which hung over the head of Renee Dale has finally been lifted after the Mat Rue-trained mare won Wednesday's opening event at Bathurst Paceway.
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Renee Dale had failed to win on her home track in her 16 previous attempts - placing on six occasions - but made her breakthrough in the Hynash Constructions Pace (1,730 metres) where she led for the full trip.
Driver Tom Pay managed to snag a couple of slower quarters on Renee Dale ($8.50), with favourite Just Won More ($2.40, Amanda Turnbull) sitting on her tail, and Rue's mare held off her more fancied opponent by a head at the winning post.
After a middle half of 61 seconds Renee Dale was able to put some distance between herself and Just Won More on the turn for home.
By the time Just Won More had started to wind up and pick up the pace there was no room left to race.
She's carried that form from Young all through this week.
- Tom Pay
Camanchi Warrior ($7.50, Mitch Turnbull) finished third.
Wednesday's success marked the first time in Renee Dale's career she'd claimed back-to-back victories.
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Pay had confidence after some comfortable sectionals that he'd have a chance at holding out the favourite.
"She's been going pretty good, and she was a good last-start winner at Young. She's probably more suited to those half mile tracks than here but she got it pretty cheap tonight and she was able to get up," he said.
"I thought it would be pretty hard for anyone to get her after that 32.1 second quarter, and even the third quarter was only 29, so she was able to sprint home.
"She's carried that form from Young all through this week and thought if she could get a good run that she'd be there or thereabouts again."
Renee Dale seventh career victory came in a new career best mile rate of 1:58.3.