ONLY a matter of inches prevented Bathurst trainer Dean Mirfin from finding a 1-2 ANZAC Day finish on his home track.
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Repentant ($5, Jamie Gibbons) continued her strong home track form with victory in the ANZAC Day Sprint (1,200 metres) and stablemate Art ‘N’ Ollie ($5, Anthony Cavallo) was denied by only a short half head in the fight for second.
In a stunning three-way photo for first place Repentant held on by a half head over the Wade Slinkard-trained Our Anniversaire ($9, Robbie Brewer).
Art ‘N’ Ollie came agonisingly close in her bid to lead from start to finish, caught by her two rivals only inside the last 20m.
It’s the third time in the last four runs at Bathurst where Repentant has had her race victory decided by mere inches.
There were no surprises at the start of Wednesday’s race.
As expected, Art ‘N’ Ollie and Paul Theobald’s Dunderry (Ashleigh Stanley) – making his 100th race start – shot out of the barriers and to the front of the field.
Gibbons and Repentant got out strongly and sat a length away from the leaders.
Our Anniversaire had sat fourth throughout the running and joined the front running trio at the 400m.
Art ‘N’ Ollie got several lengths clear of her stablemate after the whole field had straightened.
Our Anniversaire loomed up the outside to join in the hunt but Dunderry dropped out of winning contention, eventually finishing the race in sixth.
It was really good to fight the finish out with one of our other horses.
- Jamie Gibbons
Art ‘N’ Ollie appeared to her the race won but the chasing pair swooped home with force to send the finish upstairs.
Repentant’s dash had been timed to perfection. Any additional metres would likely have seen the race fall in Our Anniversaire’s favour.
Winning jockey Jamie Gibbons has always been in awe of the Repentant’s fighting qualities.
“She’s a tough and honest mare. I knew there was a lot of speed in the race with Dean’s other mare and Dunderry. They went forward so I thought I’d just tuck in on the rails,” he said.
“A bit before the 600m Dunderry had shifted one off so I had the gap to come between Art ‘N’ Ollie and Dunderry. From there I went straight through and that’s what won me the race.
“Art ‘N’ Ollie’s a really fast mare. It was really good to fight the finish out with one of our other horses.
“They’re becoming older mares now so they might head to stud soon, or they may not. She’s won six races now and I’ve been on three of them so we’ve got a good association.
“If she does end up becoming a broodmare then … I hope someday I get to ride her babies.”
