Irrespective of how much success he has in the future, 17-year-old Will Stanley from Bathurst will not forget the first day of his jockey career when he rode two winners at Bedgerabong Picnics including the Cup on Song One.
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In front of a crowd of over 1800 at the beautiful Bedgerabong track west of Forbes, Stanley commenced his career in spectacular fashion on Saturday when aboard Dot The Eye for Bathurst trainer Wanda Ings in the 1100 metres Maiden Plate.
Leading for home, Dot The Eye ($7) held on to beat Arealist (Zara Lewis, $3.80) by a neck with Cheselbeach (Maddison Wright, $3.50 equal favourite) in third place.
From the Bryan Dixon stable at Gilgandra, Song One which had finished third in strong TAB company in the Mudgee Cup and Gilgandra Cup, was ridden a dashing race by Will Stanley in the $9,000 Western Tree Care Bedgerabong Picnic Cup.
Last early, Song One ($3.80) was sent around the nine horse field by Stanley to take the lead leaving the back straight and kept going strongly to win the 1400 metres Cup by a length from Regina Margherita ( Leandro Ribeiro, $10) and Sensacova (Zara Lewis, $17.).
Will Stanley who is the son of former jockey and now Wellington trainer Peter.W.Stanley and Melissa Eassie and the sister of apprentice jockey Ashleigh Stanley, has been working with trainer Wanda Ings and her daughter jockey Chelsea Ings at Bathurst.
The Cup presentation was made by the Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack who was told by trainer Bryan Dixon he had purchased Song One midway through the geldings career for $700 and given to two of his grandchildren who have since shared in over $70,000 prize money.
Moruya based Maddison Wright who won the Picnic riders NSW Premiership last season kept her many followers happy with a winning treble, starting with the Brett Robb, Nyngan trained On A Promise in the 1100 metres Class 3 Handicap.
Owned by a syndicate from Lake Cargelligo and Tullibigeal, On A Promise ($2.20 favourite) overtook Lookin' Alive (Wayne Wheatley, $9) to score by two lengths with Great Excitement (Michael Wade, $17) finishing third.
The other winners for Maddison Wright, My Shiromi and Nepenthes are trained at Dubbo by Clint Lundholm.
My Shiromi ( $3 ) raced outside the leader before kicking clear to win the 800 metres Class B Handicap by three lengths from Vanzant (Leandro Ribeiro, $4.20) and Fame And Fortune (Wayne Wheatley, $6.50:).
Nepenthes ( $2.40 fav.) was always travelling well for Maddison Wright and dashed past the leaders in the straight to win by nearly five lengths from Bro ( Ricky Blewitt, $3.30) and Magic Gift ( Michael Johnston,$7 ).
Feature sprint the 800 metres Daniel Ball Transport Clearview Bracelet (800 metres) saw an exciting finish with the Peter Reynolds, Dubbo trained Drummed Out (Michael Johnston, $9) arriving in the last stride to beat Call Me Trinity (Leandro Ribeiro, $2.50 fav.) and Baby Merlin, Zara Lewis, $4).
Despite heavy rain on race eve the Bedgerabong turf track was in magnificent order together with the expansive lawns and gardens.
As usual, the tiny village of Bedgerabong (population 50) hosted racing at one of the prettiest and best presented racecourses in the State.
