The annual Corfield Amateur Race Club meeting from August 4 to 6 once again provided a great setting for some spirited competition between the central west and north west trained gallopers.
This year the Central West finished on top taking home three of the five races including the time honoured Corfield Cup.
Ilfracombe trainer Henry “Boy” Forster trained the second of the Ilfracombe winners on the day when Bush Caviar returned to its best form to land the Brodie Agencies Corfield Cup BenchMark 70 Handicap 1200 metres defeating Show Us A Smile and Smooth Element.
Visiting Brisbane based jockey Vishan Venkaya had Bush Caviar travelling comfortably in a wide position until 200 metres from home where he unleashed a powerful finish to win by 2.5 lengths.
Since the first up win for Forster, Bush Caviar has been a little disappointing but the trainer had the galloper in fine fettle on Saturday.
Kakakenny gave Ilfracombe a double on the day when the Rodney Little trained gelding produced a similar finish as Bush Caviar to dominate the Tropic Petroleum Benchmark 60 Handicap 1000 metres defeating How Big’s The Hole by almost three lengths.
The Forster trained Drinking Cocktails a close up third. This Murtajill gelding was a strong second at Longreach at its only other run for the stable and looks to have a bright future on the country tracks,
Longreach trained gelding Alfiarto made his long awaited appearance since its dominant first race start win at Alpha back in June when the Bradbury’s Luck gelding lined up in the Coffison & Sons Bulk Fuel Class B Handicap 800 metres.
Sent out a short priced favourite Alfiarto jumped brilliantly for north west jockey Dan Ballard and although headed slightly by Alluder and All Art coming to the turn, Alfiarto put the issue beyond doubt shortly after turning for home and raced away to win by three lengths from Alluder.
All Art was a further 3.5 lengths away in third.
Both trainer Mark Oates and Ballard were glowing in their praise for this Julie Eggerling owned four-year-old with Oates indicating a run at Birdsville might be the next run before turning Alfiarto out for a spell.
“Alfie” already looks to be headed to open company.
Visiting Brisbane based jockey Pietro Romeo made the trip worthwhile with a double on the day taking the win on Hidonal in the Mort & Co QTIS Maiden Plate 1000 metres prior to his win on Kakakenny.
Starting the outsider of the field at $21 the Shryn Gabriel-Royes trained Hidden Dragon gelding stormed home along the rails to snatch victory from I Am Hercules and Mountain Breeze which had been fighting out the finish for most of the home straight.
The other north west trained winner on the day Tuning also returned good odds of $8 for the Dawn Sanderson stable when it got up in a photo finish over Diurnal Tiger with Zaha Dream a further length away third.
Jockey Tim Brummell had Tuning on the pace turning for home and after getting the better of Zaha Dream had to withstand the rails hugging run of Diurnal Tiger.
