During a bonanza day for Nyngan trainer Rodney Robb and jockey Maddison Wright, the tough four-year-old mare Lulu’s Destiny was a dominant winner of the Fabstock & Wallace Bulk Haulage Bedgerabong Picnic Cup on Saturday.
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One of four winners for Robb and Wright at Bedgerabong, Lulu’s Destiny, owned by Rodney Robb and David Ringland from Dubbo, had won three races at tracks in the far north of Western Australia last campaign before resuming from a spell with a win at Parkes.
Racing before a big crowd, Lulu’s Destiny ($3.40) took the early lead and in the straight shot away to win by nearly five lengths from Spinning Dawn (Ricky Blewitt, $2.50 favourite) and Cyclone Andy (Wesley Boyd, $7).
Last year Security Code, trained by Robb and ridden by Wright, won both the Bedgerabong Picnic Cup and the inaugural $50,000 Picnic Championship Final at Dubbo and Lulu’s Destiny could repeat that feat in 2018.
Lucienne, trained by Rodney Robb for Greg Deacon, Dennis Thorpe and Chris Elder from Nyngan, is a likely candidate for the $150,000 Country Championship Qualifier at Dubbo after humping the 69.5 kg top weight to win the Class 3 Handicap (1100m) at Bedgerabong. After racing outside the leader, Lucienne (Maddison Wright, $2.20 fav.) forged clear to beat Golden Twist (Michael Gray, $3.50) and Getting Ready (Wesley Boyd, $21).
The other two winners from the Rodney Robb stable, I Love Ida and Archway Express are owned by Dennis Todd who operates a successful Border Leicester sheep stud at Baradine.
Todd has won races at 44 tracks in New South Wales and Queensland but although racing horses since 1964, Bedgerabong was the first time he has won a double.
I Love Ida (Maddison Wright, $4.20) took the lead near the home turn in the Maiden Plate (1100m) and was a runaway winner over Lolly (Paula Mills, $15) and Major Speed (Wesley Boyd, $5) while Archway Express (Maddison Wright, $2.80 fav.) held on to beat Unkapped (Ricky Blewitt, $6) and Matt Maneuver (Michael Gray, $6.50) in the 1400 metres Class B Handicap.
Canberra trainer John Rolfe who won the recent Cowra Cup (TAB) with Illyrian had a winning double at Bedgerabong, Time Of Her Life and Old Maribo, both ridden by Narromine based Ricky Blewitt.
Time of Her Life ($2.60) led throughout to win the Class B Handicap (800 metres) from Henny’s Harmony (Michael Wade, $2.3) and Flatley’s Fortune (Daniel Stanley, $5).
The stablemate Old Maribo Ricky Blewitt, $2.20 fav.) also set the pace when winning the Clearview Bracelet Handicap (800 metres) from Ausbred Petal (Michael Wade ($5.50) and Friends in low places (Wesley Boyd, $5).
Bedgerabong again proved a beautiful venue for racing with visitors from far and wide commenting about the magnificent presentation of the racecourse.
Attention now turns to the big Condobolin Picnic meeting on Saturday, and Mudgee on Sunday featuring the $150,000 Central Districts Qualifier for the Country Championship.
