BEFORE Bathurst Panthers have even played a game in season 2017, members of the Group 10 rugby league club can call themselves winners.
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On Wednesday night at the Bathurst Paceway, a four-year-old gelding owned by members of the club – fittingly called Panther Star – took out the second 1,730 metres heat of the Bendigo-Bathurst Drivers Invitational.
Champion reinsman Chris Alford got the job done on the $4.40 chance from Steve Jones’ Bathurst stable, Panther Star storming home down the straight to clock a 1:56.5 winning mile rate.
“The horse went really well, the speed through the middle helped him a bit, but he was very strong up the straight,” Alford said.
“I got a warning before the race that if I didn’t win Danny [Dwyer, part owner] wouldn’t be very happy if I didn’t win,” he added with a laugh.
It was the third win from 12 starts for the Four Starzzz Shark x Lady Elise gelding. He beat Glee Bromac ($8.80, Steve Turnbull) by 4.5m.
