A last stride win in the feature race at Grenfell Picnic Races on Saturday, April 8, has advanced Parkes galloper ‘As Easy As’ to the top of the pointscore ladder in the quest to qualify for the $50,000 Picnic Racing Championship Final to be held at Dubbo in September 2017.
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‘Benno's Boy’ held a narrow lead over ‘Black Fusion’ and ‘Svetla's Star’ with ‘As Easy As’ midfield on the rails when heads turned for home in the ‘Lane Cove Legends Doug Allen Memorial’ Grenfell Picnic Cup over 1400 metres.
Gaining a split, ‘As Easy As’ (Jockey: Samara Johnson, $5.50) finished strongly to win by a head from ‘Benno's Boy’ (Jockey: Daniel Stanley, $4.20) with ‘Dream On Stan’ (Jockey: Kath Bell-Pitomac, $8) a head away third.
At Trangie in December, the 8yo mare ‘As Easy As’ became the career first winner as a trainer for Sarah McIlrick from Parkes and ‘As Easy As’ has since won at Condobolin, Ardlethan and Grenfell with Samara Johnson the rider.
Debut maker ‘M'Lady Grace’ ($2.20 favourite) from the Roy McCabe stable at Bathurst,was the first leg of a winning treble for jockey Ashley Boyd when beating ‘Zarperu’ (Jockey: Michael Gray, $8) and ‘Yangon’ (Jockey: Samara Johnson, $3.20) in the Railway Hotel -Anderson Real Estate Maiden Plate,1000 metres.
The Andrew Molloy, Cowra trained ‘All Rounder’ (Jockey: Ashley Boyd, $6) ran down ‘Gorgeous Boy’ (Jockey: Katelyn Jenkinson, $4.40 fav) to win the Sweet Lauraine Class 1 Handicap (1000 metres) and Andrew Molloy and Ashley Boyd also combined to win the Frazer Family Memorial Maiden Plate (1200 metres) with $2.30 chance ‘Crixus’.
In the Frazer Family Memorial Maiden there was also a prize for the best presented horse, this was awarded to number 4 ‘Grand Thanks’ owned by DL Simpson and trained by well known trainer Peter Stanley of Bathurst.
‘Grand Thanks’ was ridden by Daniel Stanley.
‘Red Hot Tango’ ($10) well ridden by Dubbo based Katelyn Jenkinson for Goulburn trainer Karen Welch, tracked the leaders before winning the Financial Services Bracelet Handicap (1000 metres) from ‘Spare Parts’ (Jockey: Ricky Blewitt, $4) and ‘Maximoo’ (Jockey: Michael Gray, $4.40).
Trained at Yass by Scott Riley, ‘Incubate’ (Jockey: Simone Vella, $11) set the pace in the Class 2 Handicap (1200 metres) and held on to account for ‘Lightning Alert’ (Jockey: Ricky Blewitt, $2.70 fav.) and ‘Inner Clinch’ (Jockey: Nathan Newton, $11).
A very good crowd was in attendance at the Grenfell Picnics and the racecourse was presented in immaculate condition.
Camel Racing at Forbes on Friday, April 14, followed by race meetings at Lightning Ridge on Saturday, April 15, and Mudgee ( TAB ) and Bourke Picnics on Sunday, April 16.