Jake Pracey-Holmes seems to have discovered the key to Boongarra Girl, the five-year-old mare winning successive races at Mudgee and Wellington after establishing big early leads.
During a 29-start career that has so far yielded four wins, the Gayna Williams, Bathurst-trained Boongarra Girl has usually raced in midfield positions.
At the recent Mudgee meeting, Pracey-Holmes sent Boongarra Girl to a sizeable lead and the mare held on to win by a length.
The tactics were repeated at Wellington on Sunday when Boongarra Girl ($6) opened up a five lengths lead and was not threatened when scoring by almost two lengths from the strong finishing Talkachino (Ronald Simpson, $2.60 to $2.10 favourite) with nearly four lengths to Vis I Do (Nick Heywood, $2.20) in the 1400m Branson Class 3 Handicap.
Kicking the day off at Wellington in the 900m Grand Hotel Bottle Shop Maiden Handicap, Pracey-Holmes led throughout on the Toby Pracey, Mudgee-trained $4.60 chance Run Chelsea.
Completing his winning treble, Jake Pracey-Holmes led for home on Life’s A Party ($2.80 to $2.45 fav.) and the Mark Jones, Mudgee-trained five-year-old mare held on to win the 1100m Federal Hotel Class 1 Handicap by a length from Mean Girls (James Rogers, $41) and Deion (Clayton Gallagher, $2.50).
Clayton Gallagher is another jockey in great form. He brought the Brett Robb, Dubbo-trained Din ($6 to $9.50) with a powerful run down the outside from a long way back to win the 1000m LSS Security Benchmark 66 Handicap from Puerto Rico (Nick Heywood, $6) and Tells Tails (Zoe Hunt, $41).
Gilgandra trainer Kieren Hazelton provided Clayton Gallagher with his other winner, Not Too Bad, in the 1600m KFC Wellington Country Boosted BM 58 Handicap.
Not Too Bad ($3.60) had a nice run and took control in the straight to win by over two lengths from Art Angel (Dylan Stanley, $26) and the leader Mr Invincible (Shayleigh Ingelse, $3.10 fav.)
A highlight at Wellington was the running of the 1400m Congratulations, Ian Darney, Life Member -Country Boosted Maiden Plate.
The race followed the Presentation of Life Membership of Wellington Race Club to Ian Darney,
One of the best people in the sport, Ian Darney, often referred to as “Legend” or “Darn”, has always been a passionate supporter and worker for the Race Club and, in fact, anything to do with the advancement of Wellington town and the residents.
Winner of the race was the Clint Lundholm-rained Moon Zone (Ronald Simpson, $2.60 fav.), which had a good run fourth before getting home in a close finish from Sharing Is Caring (Ken Dunbar, $14) and Shamister (Ashleigh Stanley, $13).
Clint Lundholm and his apprentice Ronald Simpson had earlier won the 1100m Wellington Soldiers Memorial Club Maiden Plate with Invest In Love ($2.60).
Wellington will next race on Boxing Day.
Central Districts racing heads to Orange on Friday and Cowra on Saturday.
