TRAINERS travelled from as far as Eagle Farm and Newcastle to take part in the Kempsey Race Club eight-event program held on a perfect autumn afternoon on Tuesday.
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It was a happy meeting for Port Macquarie trainer Neil Godbolt, who took out a treble and Matthew Dracos, who rode a double on two of these horses.
The grey mare Bluey’s Mist ($11) provided the first success for the pair with a decisive win in a Class 2 1000m Handicap.
The daughter of Invincible Spirit (Ire) revelled in the heavy going to defeat Mademoiselle Denon ($5) and Sestad ($17).
The following race, a 1250m Benchmark 60 Handicap saw the Godbolt-Dracos team up again and snare first prize, this time with the Intergaze gelding Le Gaze ($6).
The six-year-old ran up to the consistent form he displayed before being spelled in December to record a clear cut win from Ruby Spy ($7) and Easy Play ($11) respectively.
Neil Godbolt made it three victories in succession in the seventh race when he and Terry Triechel, on Fayez ($5), took out the Class 1 1250m for the Emirates Park ownership.
The three-year-old Encosta De Lago gelding followed up an April 27 win at Port Macquarie by leading all the way to score decisively over Shadow Rein ($5.5) and Baccara Rose ($9).
The 1000 Handicap for two-year-olds was the only race on the program that did not attract a capacity field, however, the five starters provided a thrilling race.
The Brett Bellamy-trained Not a Single Doubt gelding Rameau ($3) carried the top weight yet was able to respond bravely to apprentice rider Cameron Lee’s urging to clearly defeat the facourite Royal Lover ($1.7) and Pendarie ($4).
Horses rarely win more clearly than the six lengths plus margin enjoyed by the Lonhro filly Licorice Stick ($5.5) when she took out the 1000m maiden with an impressive display of front running speed.
Trained at Grafton by Anthony Honess and ridden by Ben Looker, the three-year-old is owned by the Gainsborough Lodge Stud syndicate.
Two other three-year-old fillies filled the minor placings being Commandantree ($7) and Al Madam ($4.4) respectively.
It took the camera a while to decide that Super Cavalier ($8.0) had defeated Ganesh ($3.4) in the 1450m Maiden Plate.
In a race of many changes in the straight Rubylight Mary ($9) came from well back to collect the minor place.
Apprentice Cassandra Schmidt showed great strength and ability to drive the Falixir (Ire) gelding to victory in the tight finish.
Super Cavalier is trained at Taree by Darren Wilkes for the Wilkes family.
One of the easier wins on the day, four lengths plus, was recorded by the winner of the staying event, a Benchmark 65 held over 1900m.
The favourite Weekend Disciples ($3.5) took the lead in the straight only to have Two Times a Lady ($6.5) unleash a strong run which left him standing.
No doubt her stamina comes from her strong New Zealand staying bloodline as she is by Duelled.
The mare is trained at Ballina by Joanna Methven and was ridden by Craig Franklin. Eagle Farm visitor Port Gallery ($9) ran an even race to secure third place.
Racing concluded with a Class 3 Handicap over 1450m. Victory went to the Amalfi (NZ) five-year-old Boulders ($3.5) trained at Wauchope by Colt Prosser for the Rockabee Stud syndicate.
Former Kempsey apprentice jockey Belinda Hodder took him to the lead early from a favourable draw and judged the pace well to hold off challenges from Champagne Nancy ($10) and La Hdood ($3).
