A resident of New Zealand, who part-owns Opito Ballerina, was at Bathurst on Thursday to see the three-year-old filly win the final event.
Trained at Warwick Farm by Bjorn Baker, Opito Ballerina was ridden a great race by apprentice Emma Ly in the 1200 metres Kennards Hire Benchmark 58 Handicap.
Formerly from Victoria, the 27-year-old Ly is now apprenticed to Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott at Randwick.
Despite her relative inexperience and previously having ridden only three winners, Ly had the confidence of punters who backed her mount from $2.10 to start the $1.85 favourite in the 10-horse field.
Hemmed on the inside and well back in the field, Opito Ballerina looked to have only a slim hope however, the patient Emma Ly waited for the openings to appear.
In the straight, Opito Ballerina was driven through a narrow gap on the rails and charged home to win by a short neck from Art Angel (Tony Cavallo, $16) and East Harlem (Nick Heywood, $6.50).
Experience is not lacking regarding the resilient seven-year-old gelding Yak trained at Dubbo by Michael Lunn – the winner of 6 races and placed 21 times from 63 starts.
Over the month of May, Yak won at Gunnedah over 2050 metres, finished third at Muswellbrook (2300 metres), and at Bathurst won the 2000 metres Bathurst RSL Club Benchmark 66 Handicap.
Leading from the outset, Yak ($4.40 equal favourite), with Mikayla Weir in the saddle, fought off every challenge in the straight to beat home Skymax (Shaun Guymer, $6.50) and Cherry Blue (Ronald Simpson, $4.40 equal favourite).
In Central and Western Districts racing action, Bathurst is to race again on Monday, June 5, while Dubbo will run on Friday, June 2, followed by Coonamble Picnics Saturday, June 3.
For all results from Bathurst, click here.
