Scone trained galloper Speedy Squib scotched Gulgong trainer Brett Thompson’s hopes of repeating his 2015 Gulgong Cup victory at the Gulgong Races on Sunday afternoon.
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Ridden by Jake Pracey Holmes, the 2015 winner Budgee Boy took an early lead in the feature event of the day, the Bob Oatley Memorial Gulgong Gold Cup.
With Budgee Boy and Filomena, also trained by Thompson, battling for the lead into the straight, it looked like Thompson might take first and second place in the 1200 metre event.
But jockey Kody Nestor broke free of the field to claim victory on Speedy Squib, giving trainer Michael Gallagher his first win at Gulgong with his only starter for the day.
Gallagher said the five-year-old mare had found form at the right time, overcoming recent starting problems.
“She wasn’t jumping as quickly has she should have been, so we changed a few things and got her to jump a bit better today,” Gallagher said.
“She usually sits back in midfield and then finishes off strongly.”
Filomena finished second in the Cup, followed by Don’t Move, trained by Ron Brown, with Budgee Boy fourth.
However, Thompson did not go home empty handed, winning the Maiden Plate over 1000 metres with Onyabroom and the 1000 metre Benchmark 50 Handicap with Pixie Gaze.
Both of Thompson’s winners were ridden by Jake Pracey-Holmes.
In the 1200 metre Class 2 handicap apprentice jockey Matt Milford rode Litigation, trained by Kylie Kennedy in Narromine, to win by a neck over Achanizo, trained by Sue Bigg of Gunnedah.
The final race of the day, the Fletcher Family Garth and Vija Fletcher Memorial Benchmark 55, was a special event not only for the Fletcher family but for many Gulgong residents who have fond memories of the town’s former doctor.
Children and grandchildren of Garth and Vija Fletcher were out in force to cheer home Grey Parize, trained by Shane Cunynghame of Bathurst.
Grey Parize flashed past the post three quarters of a length ahead of Oskastar, ridden by Jamie Gibbons, and Sandy Waters, ridden by Matt Milford.