Sport
27 June, 2026
Western Racing Report - Bathurst and Narromine
Last week's racing wrap up with Colin Hodges
Bathurst, Tuesday, June 16
Backing up after winning over 1800 metres at Gulgong the previous week, the Garry Lunn, Dubbo trained Charlotting again proved to be a capable stayer when taking out the 2000 metres Central West Smoke Alarms Benchmark 58 Handicap at Bathurst.
Charlotting led to the halfway point where the jockey on Casterly Rock, not satisfied with the slow pace, sent his mount around the field from last to take up the frontrunners role.
Relishing the heavy track, Charlotting (Jacob Stiff, $5) took control in the straight for a convincing win from Reel Crystal (Coriah Keatings, $1.80 favourite) and Casterly Rock (Liam Blanch, $17).
The young Bathurst trainer Angus Stewart is building a handy team and he won the opening races with De Joker and Italus, both being lightly raced and formerly trained in Sydney.
De Joker (Chad Lever, $5.50) led throughout for a runaway win by over five lengths from Don’t Say Do (Reece Jones, $2.10 favourite) and Argyle Springs (Grant Buckley, $6.50) in the 1200 metres Bathurst Ag, Horse and Vet Maiden Handicap.
Italus (Reece Jones, $9) also led in the 1400 metres Captain Thunderbolts Maiden Plate but was under more pressure when holding off the Sharon Jeffries, Parkes trained Miss Peony (Mikayla Weir, $6.50) by a half-length and Michonne’s Katana (Grant Buckley, $2.40 favourite.
Adding to a good day for Bathurst stables, the Gayna Williams trained Cheap Shot ($8.50) had Clayton Gallagher aboard when taking the lead after turning for home and going on to win by over two lengths from Prorata (Jacob Stiff, $1.95 favourite) and Zahdi (Reece Jones, $8.50) in the 1100 metres Happy Birthday Paul Theobald Benchmark 58 Handicap.
Bred to be good, the three-year-old filly Indi Springs looked the part when winning the 1200 metres Dusty Hooves Country Boosted Class Two Plate for Mudgee trainer Mack Griffith.
A younger half-sister to the very good gallopers Zarizatycoon, Tags and Nomorenightshift, Indi Springs a three-times winner and placed second twice from six starts, was bred and is raced by Adam and Kristy Baker, formerly from Forbes.
In the straight, Indi Springs (Jean Van Overmeire, $1.85 favourite) overhauled Sorrento Palace (Jake Pracey-Holmes, $13) to win by over a length with Giovanni Star (Donovan Dillon, $21) in third place.
Jarrod Austin from his stables at Warwick Farm is a regular visitor and consistent winner at Bathurst and on Tuesday he won the 1100 metres Ben Hall Dash Maiden Handicap with Smichov, well ridden by Reece Jones.
On the rails, Smichov ($3.10 favourite), reached the lead in the straight, was clearly headed, then fought back to beat Spare (Rory Hutchings, $4) and Gold Finger (Jacob Stiff, $3.80).
Narromine, Monday, June 22
Go Baby, a six-year-old mare with only four previous starts and all unplaced, surprised, when winning at Narromine on Monday, June 22 for local trainer Kylie Kennedy.
Starting a $26 outsider, Go Baby ridden by Mikayla Weir, came from the tail of the field to win the 1300 metres JR Richards and Sons Country Boosted Maiden Plate in a close finish from Redaluca Girl (Jake Pracey-Holmes, $4) and Tarrant County (Clayton Gallagher, $3.90 favourite).
Placed several times but winless after 23 starts, the Bob Howe, Mudgee-trained Fortians broke through to win the 1100 metres metres Narromine USMC Maiden Handicap.
From near the rear, Fortians (Jake Pracey-Holmes, $12) found the line well to beat Bloomin’ Hell (Donovan Dillon, $11) and Ruairi (Nick Palmer, $4)
The rest of the meeting was dominated by Dubbo trainers, starting with the debut maker Blue Biddy, trained by Clint Lundholm and ridden by stable apprentice Zoe Hunt, in the 800 metres Nutrien Ag Maiden Plate.
A two-year-old filly taking on older horses, Blue Biddy ($4) hit the lead over the latter stages to account for Acquisitive Art (Gabrielle Johnston, $10) and Badgers Bridge (Mathew Cahill, $13).
Trained by Myron Cooper, owned by his wife Corinne Cooper and ridden by their daughter Angela Cooper, the lightly raced seven-year-old gelding Taormina Sailor won the 800 metres Three Rivers Machinery Benchmark 58 Handicap.
Hawkesbury trained Too Darn Lovely ($3 favourite) led until passed by Taormina Sailor ($4) which went on to win from Broken Wings (Leanne Boyd, $4) and Torendosetta (Jake Pracey-Holmes, $3.90).
Second leg of a winning double for Jake Pracey-Holmes was River Rogue which following a good run when second at Warren, won the 1100 metres AgnVet Services Benchmark 58 Handicap.
Par-owned by Tim Moses with the trainer Cindy Monaghan, River Rogue ($5) settled midfield before reeling in the leaders for a strong win from City Gold Speed (Izzy Neale, $3.40 favourite) and Rothgate (Jasmine Urquhart-Warren, $9.50).
Since joining the Janelle Galea stable at Dubbo after being trained in Victoria, Honey Slider has won the only starts, at Cobar and Narromine, the latter being the 1100 metres Narromine Hardware Benchmark 58 Handicap.
Well ridden by Liam Blanch, Honey Slider ($13) produced a big run down the outside from last to beat Commander Meroo (Izzy Neale, $5.50 favourite) and Miss Karis (Clayton Gallagher, $9.50).
Another to come from last on the heavy track was the Michael Mulholland trained Turbulent (Nick Palmer, $3.90) when defeating Wolf Club (Donovan Dillon, $13) and Apache Jack (Serg Lisnyy, $6) in the 1300 metres Benabilla Auctions Benchmark 66 Handicap.
Improving on recent form, the Dar Lunn trained Selinya ridden by Donovan Dillon, as a $51 outsider arrived in time from midfield to win the 1600 metres QUBE Agri Class One and Maiden Plate from Purple Prince (Zoe Hunt, $61) and Snow Dog (Mikayla Weir, $9).