“She has had bone chips removed from a knee,” Farrell said.

“If that hadn’t happened I think she would have been pretty good.

“She can go into foal and then have a couple of more runs.”

Greg Ryan, who rode Pel, added to Farrell’s determination to follow that idea.

“That is the roughest she has felt,” Ryan said.

“She was favouring that leg.”

Pel came from third and fourth early to get involved in a battle with the early leader Don’t Tease Me 

(Leanne Henry) to beat that horse by a short neck.

***

MID-North Coast apprentice Chloe Baker celebrated her first ride for Todd Howlett by leading all the way on Dalmatia Prince to win the Mayors Cup (1750m) at Muswellbrook’s Melbourne Cup meeting on Tuesday.

“I was looking for a claiming apprentice and Chloe has impressed me with her riding,” Howlett said.

“She rode the horse a treat and I will probably use her more often.”

Howlett may now aim Dalmatia Prince at the Country Classic (2000m) at Rosehill on November 25.

“I know it will be a big step up in class for him,” he said.

“I briefly thought about the Muswellbrook Cup but that means I would have to bring him back in distance.

“I would rather keep stepping him up.”

Baker set her own pace in front and allowed Dalmatia Prince to hack along at a slow pace early with the horses behind her off the bit.

Dalmatia Prince kicked clear in the straight then fought back to hold off Sunday Swindler (Chris O’Brien) and win by a long neck.

The $100,000 Muswellbrook Cup (1500m) will be run on Friday, December 8. 

*** 

GREG Ryan landed a winning treble after the Paul Perry-trained Marathon won the Hollydene Estate Wines Class One (1450m).

His earlier winners were Leica’s Lass for Brett Cavanough in the Sardos Coffee Class Three (1000m) and Pel for Pat Farrell in the Muswellbrook Coal Company Bowman Sprint (900m).

Ryan described Marathon as a funny horse to ride.

“He got his head up when we got clear in the straight and he gives the impression he will get further,” he said.

“It is good to get a treble on Melbourne Cup day.”

Paul Perry’s foreman, Mick Rowland, said the horse had been unlucky at his previous start when fourth at Tamworth.

“He was in the right race over the right distance from a good barrier with the right jockey today,” he said.

“Everything fell into place.”

***        

BRETT Cavanough has predicted a bright future for Leica’s Lass (Greg Ryan) after the mare resumed to lead all the way and score an impressive win in the Sardos Coffee Class Three (1000m).

“She is a far better mare than her form from her previous campaign reads,” Cavanough said.

“She had a lot of bad luck in that campaign, but the spell did her the world of good.

“She is a lovely mare and I think she will go on and win better races.

“Early on she had a life-threatening operation but fortunately she came through it.

“She went into this race without a trial, but I think trials are over rated anyway.

“That was a great ride by Greg Ryan, but he is the leading rider.”

While Ryan was dictating terms in front the top weight War Hero was back mid-field early and despite carrying 62kg made up many lengths to beaten into second place by a neck.

“We had a lot of weight relief on the second horse, but I think both he and my mare have a future,” Cavanough said.

***

A BID by owner trainer John Simpson to win first up with Thornbro came to fruition with the four-year-old coming within a fraction of the race record in winning the Peel Valley Machinery Maiden (1000m).

“The spell has made a big difference to him,” Simpson said.

“He grew and really matured.

“We have always known that he had ability, but it was a matter of being patient and letting him grow and strengthen up.

“He trialled really well and Rachael (Murray) has been riding him in all his work.

“I bought him at the Classic sale after he was passed in, but he was from the first draft of horses by Stryker and I race him with my sister Prudence Scott.”  

Murray gave Thornbro plenty of time to balance up and settle before going on to beat Forever Ranga by a neck in 57.73 seconds.

***

THE Kris Lees-trained Lomazzo scored his first win for 20 months courtesy of a great ride from Aaron Bullock in the Muswellbrook RSL Club Benchmark 65 (1280m).

However, the horse had made for his winless record prior to this race with a series of placings including a second at Newcastle on October 21.

Bullock said he had been able to settle in a good position early then got caught in a pocket.

“I didn’t want to be there because he is the sort of horse that can’t stop and start so I had to take him three wide to get him out of trouble.

“I didn’t want him to have any excuses.”

Lomazzo was going away on the line under hard riding from Bullock to win by one and a quarter lengths from Nick On The Run.

***

WARWICK Farm trainer Matthew Smith produced a potential middle-distance galloper in Paris Sizzler which made his debut with a fighting win in the Book For Muswellbrook Cup Day Maiden (1280m).

There was little support for the giant four-year-old and while his debut came at his third preparation he won a Hawkesbury trial leading into this race.

Part-owner John Caines said Smith had been forced to take his time with the son of Helmet because of his size.

“Matthew is very patient with his horses and he has been really patient with this one,” Caines said.

“We think he has a future as a 2000m horse or even further.

“His next start will be over 1400m and we will continue to step him up from there.”

Jockey Chris O’Brien told Caines that the horse showed a lot of promise.

“Once he gets his head around what racing is all about he will be all right,” he said.

O’Brien settled Paris Sizzler on the fence behind the leaders, got a split in the straight and he gradually over hauled Andriana to win by a long head.