Gallant Performance
Humping the 68kg top weight, Double Halo on Saturday was responsible for a gallant performance. He came through the race, winning the $8,000 Royal Hotel Condobolin Picnic Cup (1400 metres) for the second year in succession for 81 year old trainer Bruce Parker from GIlgandra.
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Premier jockey Ricky Blewitt from Narromine, after five months on the sideline with a broken wrist, was back in action at Condobolin.
He had the exciting mount on the the nine year old black gelding Double Halo, now the winner of 14 races and over $240,000 prize money.
Pressured for the lead from the 1000 metres by Bemiles, Double Halo ($2.80 favourite) fought hard in the straight for a one length win over Sergeant Bilko (Simone Vella, $4.60) with Bemiles (Shannon Fogg, $4) holding on for third
Racing well at recent TAB meetings, four year old grey gelding Mr Swift was a stylish winner of the Condobolin RSL Open Handicap (1000 metres).
Ridden by Shannon Fogg for Condobolin trainer Mark Ward. Mr Swift ($2.80 to $2.30 fav.) swept around the field approaching the home turn.
He scored by nearly four lengths from Miss Mellencamp (Katelyn Jenkinson, $5) and Fettlers Boot (Samara Johnson, $7).
Mr Swift is raced by David Simmons (Trundle) Dr Lily Ward (Condobolin). Wayne McDonell (Orange) and the trainer Mark Ward.
Another popular win for the locals was Dublin Dan. Dublin Dun is owned by Brent, Simone and Luke Grimmond and trained at Condobolin by their father Graham Grimmond.
The first leg of a winning double for Shannon Fogg, Dublin Dan ($2,20 fav.) led most of the way for an easy win over Invincible Halo (Maddison Wright, $5) and Vouloir (Ricky Blewitt, $7) in the Sincock LVM- Forbes Livestock Maiden Plate (1000 metres).
Now based at Bathurst, Shannon Fogg had been a track work rider at Condobolin. For the Sarah McIlrick, Parkes trained As Easy As, it was a "stroll in the park" when winning the Chamens Supa IGA Class 3 Handicap (1400 metres).
Near last early, As Easy As (Samara Johnson, $4) made ground from the 600 metres and cruised home from Dynamic Dora (Maddison Wright, $2.50 fav.) and Where's Roger (Simone Vella, $9).
The final event, the 1700 metres Grain Corp Class 2 Handicap saw an exciting finish with Ashley Boyd from well back gaining a rails run on the Andrew Molloy, Cowra trained Not On Time ($3 fav.).
It was a close win over the Les Bryant, Parkes trained pair Jeweller's Luck (Kath Bell, $8) and Surprise Star (Katelyn Jenkinson, $15). Condobolin attracted a very good crowd.
