Like several other Western Racing Association clubs, Mendooran Race Club had not raced since 2019 due to either COVID or wet weather.
That all changed on Saturday, with Mendooran entertaining a big crowd to see Daredevil win the Cup for Dubbo trainer Dar Lunn.
Trained by Lunn for his wife Jill Lunn, Daredevil had been racing consistently with placings in the recent Collie Cup at Gilgandra and Gulargambone Cup.
It started second favourite behind Noble Pluck ($3.50) in the 1200 metres Edwards Livestock Exports Mendooran Cup.
Ridden by experienced apprentice Jake Barrett, Daredevil ($4) took the lead from Hampton Cove approaching the home turn and held on to win by over a length from Zamali (James Rogers, $26) and Miss Ash Star (Will Stanley, $8.50).
Tony Cavallo recently rode his 1000th winner and was aboard another resilient performer, Northern Conqueror, in the 1000m Benchmark 45 Handicap.
From the Bob Howe stable at Rylstone, the 11-year-old Northern Conqueror landed some good bets for punters when taking the record to eight wins and 30 placings from 113 starts.
The $4.20 favourite Adviser (Kelsey Lenton) hit the lead in the straight but was overhauled and beaten a half-head by Northern Conqueror ($50 to $21) with Rupicasso (James Rogers, $4.80), a strong finishing third.
Trained at Dubbo by Clint Lundholm for Clint Sarina, Star Of Kings was substantially supported and broke the track record when winning the 800m Class 2 Handicap.
Straight to the lead, Star Of Kings (Ronald Simpson, $2 to $1.90 favourite) was a convincing winner over Inferno Miss (Jake Pracey-Holmes, $6) and Luckyimwithaimee (Will Stanley, $11).
Part-owned by Gilgandra Jockey Club president Jason Tate and trained by Kieren Hazelton, Turgenev won the JJ McGirr Silver Horseshoe Class 2 Handicap.
Shikishi and General Partner vied for the lead from the outset; however, Turgenev (Andrew Banks, $3.20 equal favourite), coming from near the back of the field, swooped in the straight to beat another strong finisher, Bill Peyto (Kelsey Lenton, $4.40) with Shikishi (Billy Cray, $3.20 eq. fav.) battling on for third.
The other winners at the highly successful meeting were Butter Both Sides ($4.40), well-ridden by Wellington apprentice Dylan Stanley for Quirindi trainer Geoff O’Brien, $4.40) in the 1200m Fitzgerald Cup Maiden Handicap, and Cigar Bar (Jake Pracey-Holmes, $4) from the Jim Gleeson stable in the 1500m Greenhalgh Cup Maiden Plate.
