Popular jockey Jake Pracey-Holmes threw his goggles to cheering fans when returning to the yard on Miss Twenty Two, the third leg of his winning treble on Saturday at Mudgee.
In great form this season, Pracey-Holmes had Miss Twenty Two nicely positioned before joining the leaders, turning for home in the 1600 metres Happy 50th Raymond Pitt Benchmark 50 Handicap.
After a stirring battle down the long Mudgee straight, the Dar Lunn, Dubbo-trained Miss Twenty Two ($2.30 favourite) prevailed by a long head from Golden Eclipse (Shayleigh Ingelse, &5) and Knowitall Jack (Mathew Cahill, $3.50).
Winner of nine races from 48 starts, Miss Twenty Two is owned by Guy Mitchell from Binnaway and Rob Pratten from Dubbo.
Bathurst trainer Gayna Williams, who won with Fletchlo at her home track the previous day, won the 1400 metres Big Smoke Bowlers Benchmark 50 Handicap at Mudgee with Boongarra Girl.
A daring front-running ride by Pracey-Holmes saw Boongarra Girl establishing an early four-length lead before holding on to win by a length from Mista Sock (Ken Dunbar, $6) and Dynastic (Zoe Hunt, $7).
The best-backed runner at the meeting was Gulf Of Gabes, with the odds tumbling from $13 to $4 before the 1400 metres Pink Up Mudgee Maiden Plate.
Jake Pracey-Holmes sent Gulf Of Gabes to the early lead, and the Nikki Pollock, Scone-trained four-year-old gelding having the second start in a race defied every challenge in the straight to win by a half-length from Platinum Asset (Darryl McLellan, $2.80 fav.) and Iron Fist (Nyssa Burrells, $15).
Placed the previous starts at Mudgee and Forbes, the Roy McCabe, Bathurst-trained Virtual Legend broke through to win the 1100 metres McGrath Foundation Maiden Plate for owner Peter Knight.
Breaking clear before the home turn, Virtual Legend (Ashleigh Stanley, $1.60 favourite) was a comfortable winner from More Voltage (Darryl McLellan, $2.20) and Sly Witness (James Rogers, $4).
Recording the third winner of her career, apprentice jockey Zoe Hunt brought the Clint Lundholm, Dubbo-trained Majestic Wings ($2.70 equal fav.) from last to win the 1100 metres Breast Feeding Cancer Awareness Benchmark 50 Handicap from the leader Fill A Promise (Jake Pracey-Holmes, $3.20) and Rupicasso (James Rogers, $2.70 equal fav.).
Central Districts racing heads to Dubbo on Saturday and again on Melbourne Cup day.
