The lure of doubled prizemoney attracted a capacity field on Saturday for the $30,000 Dunk Insurance Enngonia Cup, with the winner Sacred Stream, coming from the Charleville stables of Shane Iverson.
Canberra-based jockey Richard Bensley took the early lead on the Queensland galloper, and it was an all-the-way win by Sacred Stream ($3.20) by two and a half lengths from the Connie Greig, Dubbo-trained pair Linden Tree (Will Stanley, $7) and Hemsted (Clayton Gallagher, $3 favourite) in the 1400 metres Cup.
Richard Bensley and Nyngan trainer Rodney Robb were on their way back from outback Queensland, where their wins included All Words in the Betoota Cup, and their stop at Enngonia in far North West NSW proved fruitful with a winning double, Hurn Court and Nannu.
Both of those horses had been unplaced at Birdsville however, Hurn Court (Richard Bensley, $1.80 favourite) led throughout at Enngonia to win the 1000 Bourke Bowling Club Open Handicap from Billy Bent Ear (Will Stanley, $3.60) and Za Hidden Dragon (Ken Dunbar, $4.40).
Completing the Richard Bensley treble and Rodney Robb double, Nannu ($4.40) led most of the way to beat Ballycastle (Clayton Gallagher, $4.80) and The Drafter (Chelsea Ings, $10) in the 1400 metres Thomas Foods International Class 2 Handicap.
Bathurst trainer Roy McCabe and his partner Ashleigh Stanley made the long trip from the central Tablelands to land a winning double with Boovey and Overclassy.
Near last turning for home, Boovey (Ashleigh Stanley, $11 to $4.80) stormed down the outside to win the 1000 Maiden Plate from Our Little Zoe (Angela Cooper, $7) and Hammoon Sunshine (Jake Barrett, $7).
Overclassy (Ashleigh Stanley, $2.30 favourite) later led throughout to beat Jawsome (Paul Zerafa, $8) and Bonhomie (Will Stanley, $3.60) in the 1200 metres Nutrien Walsh Hughes Benchmark 45 Handicap.
Dubbo trainer Connie Greig has a tremendous record on western region tracks, and she won the 1200-metre Class 2 Handicap with Belle ‘O Ballee.
Coming from behind the leading trio, Belle ‘O Ballee (Will Stanley, $2.60 equal favourite) won by over a length from Bionic (Clayton Gallagher, $3.80 to $$3.50) Rupeltier (Ken Dunbar, $5).
Enngonia had not held a meeting for four years due to COVID and wet weather, and a big crowd welcomed back racing at the village north of Bourke.
Geurie Picnics race on Saturday, followed by Narromine (TAB) on Tuesday, September 19.
