Image – Racing Photography.
The Bryan Dixon Jnr, Gilgandra-trained Ecker Road, winner of the Gulargambone Cup on Saturday, has been an underrated galloper for much of his career.
Although the winner of nine races, many of the better performances have been when placed in high-grade events, including 4th of 16 to Aesop’s Fables in the $100,000 Dubbo Gold Cup, 4th to Spiranac in the $80,000 Panorama at Bathurst and second when beaten in the last stride by Safado in the recent Cannonball at Coonamble.
Other notable placings over recent years include seconds in the Cups at Gilgandra, Gulgong, Lightning Ridge and Collie Cup at Gilgandra.
Ken Dunbar gave the now 10-year-old Ecker Road a charmed run behind the leaders in the 1200m Inland Petroleum -Bill Lambell Memorial Gulargambone Cup.
Gaining an inside run, Ecker Road ($8) won by a neck from Beauchamp (Jake Pracey-Holmes, $2 favourite) and Daredevil (Will Stanley, $5).
Punters were off to a bad start when rank outsider Warrior’s Spirit foiled a betting plunge on the Muswellbrook-trained Apache Doc in the 1100m Gulargambone Bowling Club Maiden Handicap.
Ridden by James Rogers for Narromine trainer Kylie Kennedy, Warrior’s Spirit ($41) hit the front in the straight and lasted to win by a half head from Apache Doc (Angela Cooper, $6.00 to $2.80 favourite), which rushed home from near the tail of the field, while Chart Topper (Georgina McDonnell, $5), was only a head away third.
A protest by Ashleigh Stanley on the 5th placed Red Card Rosie against the winner was dismissed.
The following race, the 1450m Threefold Garden Management Maiden Plate, saw punters back in the black when the Clint Lundholm, Dubbo trained Irene Of Athens (Jake Pracey-Holmes), firmed from $2.50 to $2 favourite and, after racing handy to the lead won by a half-length from Arlington Girl (Zoe Hunt, $3) and Mista Sock (Billy Cray, $7).
Beaten a nose by For Da Boys at the 2022 Gulargambone meeting, Miss Twenty Two returned this year to win the 1450m, AMPS Agribusiness Benchmark 45 Handicap.
From the Dar Lunn stable at Dubbo, Miss Twenty Two (Georgina McDonnell, $4.40) tracked the leader and won by a half-length from the heavily backed War Toy (Chelsea Ings, $8 to $3.50 favourite) and The Enzo (Zoe Hunt, $5).
Leading all the way, the Sharon Jeffries, Parkes-trained Jin Chi Phantom ($13) under powerful riding by Michael Heagney held on to win the 1800m Halcroft & BennettBenchmark 50 Handicap from Outback Cod (Andrew Banks, $6) and Beg Me (Ken Dunbar, $4 equal fav.).
Formerly from Gulargambone and a long-time successful jockey in Sydney, Andrew Banks was a popular winner of the Gilgandra & Dubbo Toyota Class 1 Handicap on the Michael Lunn, Dubbo-trained Geesheehan.
Ready to challenge when turning for home, Geesheehan ($5) responded to vigorous riding to beat the leader Overclassy (Ashleigh Stanley, $2.80 fav.) by a long neck with Ready Made Doll (Clayton Gallagher, $11) a close third.
Gulargambone attracted a tremendous crowd, and big crowds are also expected at Mendooran on Saturday and Mudgee on Sunday.
