Rodney Robb never gives away too much in a post-race interview but even he was left a little stunned on Sunday when Bows 'N' Bells took out the $32,000 Qube Logistics Cotton Cup (1600m) at Warren.
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After a stint racing at remote tracks in outback Queensland, five-year-old mare Bells 'N' Bows has ow recorded three successive wins for the popular Nyngan trainer.
Bells 'N' Bows at the Simpson Desert Carnival in August and was placed at Betoota, Birdsville and Bedourie and after a pair of second-placed finishes after returning to NSW found top form and has won at Narromine, Dubbo's Derby Day meeting and now Warren.
"That was a phenomenal surprise," Robb told Sky Thoroughbred Central after the win.
"Talk about a tough little mare. She raced the Birdsville circuit and had four starts in three weeks."
Promising apprentice jockey Wendy Peel produced a brilliant performance in the saddle on Sunday, sitting on pace in third spot along the rails before shooting clear at the top of the straight and building a commanding lead.
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Bells 'N' Bows ($14) was then able to hold off Sea Lady ($12) and Quick Spin ($13) to take out the $32,000 feature.
The run of form continues a strong turnaround for Bells 'N' Bows.
The mare had previously been slow out of the gates all too frequently and struggled to get in races.
But Robb always had faith.
"She was slow out of the barriers and give then a length's start but I always said to my son, Brett, if we can get her to jump she'll be okay," he said.
Robb also poked some fun at Peel's fellow apprentice hoop, Clayton Gallagher.
Gallagher rode Bells 'N' Bows to victory at both Narromine and Dubbo but opted not to take the ride on Sunday, pairing up with the tough Peter Sinclair-trained Free Billy instead.
Free Billy, who Gallagher rode to victory in the recent Coonabarabran Cup, finished sixth as a $3.80 favourite on Sunday.
Molasses also won at Warren on Sunday, proving again he's one of the top sprinters in the bush.
The seven-year-old Molasses took out the Kurri Kurri Boys Sprint Warren Jockey Club Sprint (1200m) in front of a strong crowd to make it nine career wins and two feature sprint victories in his past three starts.
Molasses jumped a $5.50 chance on Sunday and with Grant Buckley in the saddle flew home on the extreme outside to win by a half-length from Professor Marx ($11) and Go Beau Jangles ($41).
The result followed on from Molasses' win in the Coonamble Crystal Sprint (1200m) two starts back for veteran Forbes trainer Dennis Bush and a second-placed finish in Coonabarabran's Farewell Don Mulrooney Cup Day Sprint (1100m) last time out.