It was a dominant night for Bathurst at Parkes on Wednesday, where every single race was either won by a Bathurst trainer or driver.
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This result reflects Orange’s Towac Park’s meeting on February 5.
Bathurst trainer and driver Mat Rue was involved in two wins at the meeting, guiding Big In America for her maiden win and Blake On Fire for Parkes trainer Kevin Medlyn.
The three-year-old brown filly and race favourite ($2) won by 10.70 metres over the Mitch Turnbull driven Adore Ruby ($4.40) in the Parkes League Club Three Year Old Pace (2,040 metres).
“I’m really happy to get the win. She’s been a late maturer. We took her to Goulburn [for her first start in January] and she made a mistake with 300 metres to go and that was disappointing,” Rue said.
“It’s always good to get a result.
“I was really happy with the way she was leading.
“We’ll give her one more run, maybe another, then give her a spell.”
I’m really happy to get the win. She’s been a late maturer
- Bathurst trainer Mat Rue on Big In America
Big In America started the race from the front row, gate three and took the lead early.
Adore Ruby settled in behind Big In America early in the race and the pair remained second and first respectively, until Outta Crossgar ($119.50) made a brief challenge in the final back straight.
But it was Adore Ruby who made a serious threat, coming out from before the leader to go side-by-side going into the final turn.
Adore Ruby’s challenge was short lived, as Big In America built a decent lead and won the race comfortably in the end.
Blake On Fire ($1.30) was a hot favourite to win the Col Fletcher Ford Pace.
The six-year-old black gelding stayed true to the punters’ odds and won convincingly, by 16.9 metres.
“He had a big drop in grade and found himself in this race. It was a pretty comfortable win and was expected,” Rue said.
“They [bookmakers] were keen to keep him at short odds and he [Blake On Fire] showed them why.”
It was also the gelding’s first win, after starting 17 races dating back to September 2013.
While Rue found some success on the night, it was not the case for Moslar ($5.70) in the Rubbers Pace (1,660 metres).
Trained and driven by Rue, the four-year-old bay gelding struggled to threaten the leader.
Moslar finished sixth in what was a tight finish between the top six horses.
“He was unlucky and got into a bit of trouble. It was a difficult draw [second row, gate one] and he has a lot to learn,” Rue said.
Bathurst trainers and drivers collected the three places in the Rubbers Pace – the Steve Turnbull trained and Amanda Turnbull driven Rainbow On Fire ($1.80) won by half a head, Nathan Hurst’s Kyalla Tee Jay ($31.80) finished second and Nathan Turnbull’s Abercrombie Lisa ($29.30) claimed third spot.
Rue was also in the gig for Curls Toby, in the Alabar Pace (1,660 metres).
Curls Toby finished third, in what was a “first run in a while” and a “good run” for the bay gelding.