Lucky Ima Cugat, ridden by apprentice jockey, Alexander Stokes, was the first number four to salute the judge in the first race of the day, the Silks Restaurant @ MRC Maiden Handicap (1000m).

The winner was trained at Broadmeadow by Steve Hodge, and fellow Broadmeadow trainer, Kris Lees, won the second race, the Two Rivers Wines maiden Handicap (1200m) with Four O’Çlock Fox, also carrying the ‘number four’ in class record time.

Race Four, a Maiden Plate (1750m) saw Mr Silk carry the number four to a narrow short-head victory for trainer Rod Ollerton.

Three races later, Rodney Northam’s Bella Filante (R. Thomson) carried the number four to success in the Bengalla Mining Benchmark 55 Handicap (1280m).

By now punters were somewhat reluctant to back the horse with the number four cloth, but those who did were rewarded when Centabeel (Blake Spriggs) won race nine, the Darley B/M 59 Handicap (1450).

Most impressive winner of the afternoon was the Greg Bennett-trained 3-year-old filly, Kartini, in class 1 Handicap (1000m).

Kartini, the $2.60 favourite, was having her second race start.

She had previously won at Muswellbrook in September last year. Bennett said the filly would most likely have her next start in Sydney.

Trainers double

MUSWELLBROOK trainer, Pat Farrell, who has experienced a lean time as far as winners are concerned over the past 12 months, saddled up the favourite, Fort Sumter (Greg Ryan), winner of the 1280 metres Maiden.

Farrell had a further success last Monday with a double at Dubbo. His Dubbo winners were Bottled Up in the Class 3 Handicap (1300m), and Urania Crown (B/M 60 Handicap over 1100 metres.

Last Sunday, Farrell’s racing partner, Jan Bowan, was successful with Jest A Trace, who won the Class 2 Handicap (1200m) at Tamworth in class record time.