Despite persistent showers on Friday and heavy rain over the preceding days, a remarkably big crowd attended the Orange meeting.
The going was downgraded from soft to heavy as the meeting progressed on Friday. However, the stipendiary stewards said racing could continue due to the outstanding presentation of the track, which had excellent grass coverage.
Michael Mulholland from Dubbo is an excellent trainer, and he combined with his apprentice Shayleigh Ingelse to land a winning double with Memories and World Atlas.
Memories was resuming from a spell while World Atlas, although placed several times, had been unable to win a race at 15 starts before recently joining the Mulholland stable.
In the feature race, the 1300mTamburlaine Organic Wines Benchmark 74 Handicap, the six-year-old mare Memories ($7.50) was given a nice run behind the leaders by Shayleigh Ingelse before winning by a length from Praline (Robbie Downey, $7) and Dawn Issue (Heavelon Van Der Hoven, $ 2.15 favourite).
Shayleigh Ingelse also rode very well in the 1600m CNW Electrical Wholesale Maiden Handicap on World Atlas ($4.60 to $3.50), which tracked the leader then drew clear to score by over three lengths from Majorian (Robbie Downey, $2.70 fav.) and Shamister (Ashleigh Stanley, $12).
Formerly from Namibia, talented jockey Heavelon Ven Der Hoven was aboard the Dean Mirfin, Bathurst-trained Ida’s Rules in the 1000mWIN Network Class 1 Handicap.
Ida’s Rules ($6.50) raced midfield and finished well to account for Line Of Law (Robbie Downey, $2.30 to $1.90 fav.) and Precious Socks (Mathew Cahill, $7.50).
A recent addition to the Gayna Williams stable at Bathurst, the seven-year-old gelding Gutsy, after mediocre form in South Australia, made it two wins in succession when taking out the 1000m Epiroc Country Boosted Benchmark 58 Handicap.
Rushing home from back in the field, Gutsy (Clayton Gallagher, $3.50 fav.) was a half-length winner over Rubi Air (Mathew Cahill, $8.50) and Scoffa (Shaun Guymer, $5).
Owned by Michael Cox from Mudgee and trained at Mudgee by Mark Jones, Mike (Clayton Gallagher, $3.50 to $3.20) led throughout to beat Loch Anton Lady (Kayla Nisbet, $8.50) and Railway Avenue (Mathew Cahill, $10) in the 1290 metres Contemporary Homes Country Boosted Maiden Plate.
The other winners were all from Warwick Farm stables, Field Of Myrtle (Andrew Calder, $2.70 to $2.40 favourite) trained by Bjorn Baker, Buff In Disguise (Andrew Calder, $4.60) trained by Ron Leemon and Hellfire Express (Heavelon Van Der Hoven, $1.70 fav.) trained by Annabelle Neasham.
Orange will next race on Monday, December 11.
