The first of Colbey’s runners to take to the track was Magic Franco who lined up in the Benchmark 55 (1400m) event with senior country hoop Kody Nestor in the saddle. 

Franco settled well back in the run, with Kody taking him wide in the straight and rattling home to hit the line for a clear half-length win, paying a nice $5.60 for the win on the tote. 

Kody Nestor also rode Colbey’s other runner Just Elle, who is the daughter of one of Moruya’s best ever country cups campaigners of some years ago in Not Fussy, and is part owned by Not Fussy’s owner Pat Hunter with Colbey. 

Just Elle jumped in the Benchmark 50 (1200m) event and she also came home out wide for an emphatic almost one length winning margin at the line. 

She was returning from a spell after her first win and it’s now two-in-a-row for her. 

Colbey has had her accepted for several meetings in the lead up to Saturday’s race, but heavy tracks and adverse weather had delayed her return, but it all certainly paid off in the end. 

John Peiti’s Summer Duck Wood ran on strongly for a two lengths close fifth behind Just Elle with Kevin Sweeney aboard. 

Congratulations to Colbey and Pat continuing their long term association and success as part of Moruya racing history. 

Also on Saturday it was another victorious day in the saddle for Tim Phillips who rode in all six races on the card at the distant north Come-By-Chance Picnic race meeting. 

In another dominant day, Tim rode the winners of the first three races, all for Parkes-based trainer George Wright. 

He missed a placing in race four but then rode Rodney Robb’s Nyngan-based Mr Corone for a close win in race five, the feature Picnic Cup. 

Tim ended the day with a two length third in the sixth, the Picnic (1000m) Sprint race. 

Tim, we all salute you – you certainly know how to put on a great picnic. Attention then turned to the Goulburn meeting on Tuesday where Matt Stephen’s Intimate Kingdom was running in the Benchmark 55 mile and Kevin Cassidy had two maidens, Come Out Swingin’ and Little Bit Trashy, in different races both with Roly Saxton riding. 

All three of Intimate Kingdom’s previous wins had been achieved only on the Goulburn track and he’s always under notice by the pundits when he runs there.

He ran another gutsy and brilliant race there on Tuesday. 

He settled in the leading pair from the jump until the corner, fighting off challengers on both sides up the straight. 

The last 100 metres developed into a two-horse war between Intimate Kingdom and Donna Grisedale’s Defenceman, the pair matching strides to the line where the photo finish proved our horse got the decision by a nose. 

Scott Pollard’s vigorous and determined ride was exceptional and you could just see that both horse and rider were not going to give in. 

Well done Matt for the win, but also for a fantastic campaign this time in. Unfortunately Kevin’s runners both missed the placings in their races, but will no doubt derive benefit from the experience. 

I was excited to see Lynda Bundy’s lightly-raced budding star Jacakaizane testing the city waters at Canterbury on Wednesday, when running in the No-Metro Win (1250m) event with Grant Buckley aboard, against a very strong field of nine.

He was prominent in the run but was tightened for room at the turn suffering bumps but continued to progress tenaciously in the straight for a mid-field finish. 

He will certainly lose no admirers from the run and I think there are a lot of admirers out there. 

We have a large and strong contingent of Moruya gallopers stepping out in almost every race at Canberra today and Roly and Neil Perryman will be riding there. 

We may also see another cameo appearance by Jessie Whipp on Morena in race two, subject of course to scratchings. 

We also have nominations in the mix for Monday’s Queanbeyan meeting. 

Until next week, good luck and good punting.