Last Friday, two Moruya runners stepped out at the provincial meeting at Kembla Grange, that being Chris Hensler’s Jayko and Joe Ible’s Rush To Judgement, both taking part in the Benchmark 60 (1400m) event on the slow surface. 

Young Tash Burleigh aboard Jayko took him to the lead from an outside gate after the jump and he stayed in front for most of the straight when the swoopers appeared. 

Rush To Judgement, with Winona Costin in the saddle, came away from the fence after turning and put her mount into the front group of chasers in pursuit of Jayko. 

With about 50 metres to go, Peter Snowden’s Jitterbug and Bede Murray’s Darci’s Affair hit the lead with Rush To Judgement and Jayko fighting it out for the minor placing just behind. 

In a busy and exciting finish, Jitterbug claimed victory and Rush To Judgement claimed third just ahead of Jayko in fourth. 

It was a magnificent finish for our two Moruya runners against a very strong field of city and provincial runners and well done to both of them. 

Attention then turned to Saturday’s Bombala (non-TAB) meeting where ten Moruya runners stepped out across the six-event card and Roly Saxton rode in all six races.

Roly finished second in the first two Maiden events, firstly on Sutton-based Springwood Lass for Scott Collings and then on Wade Mathie’s Yeeha, who has shown marked improvement in his last few runs. 

Roly had ridden John Peiti’s Summer Duck Wood for a heartbreaking close second at Wagga two weeks before and the pair lined up in the third race, a Benchmark 45 (1400m) event, over the same distance as the previous Wagga race. 

It was another tight finish but this time Summer Duck Wood went one better to claim victory, well deserved after two seconds from his previous four starts this campaign. 

Bernie Connell’s Sea’n’Believe finished third in the race, a few lengths behind Summer Duck Wood. 

The Bombala Cup (1200m) was another very close finish with Roly winning the race aboard Scott Collings’ Ultima Chance by a nose over Steve Stephen’s Baldovino ridden by Tash Burleigh. 

It was a fantastic result for Roly after missing out on what I thought was to be the certain winner of the Cootamundra Cup two weeks before when that meeting’s last minute abandonment due to drainage problems occurred. 

That was Baldovino’s first run this campaign after a spell and he looks like he’s in for more success this time in work. 

He won his second-up run last campaign and may well do the same again at his next start. 

Roly finished a close fourth on Luke Pepper’s Eskame in the Class One (1700m) event which ended the day’s racing. 

Tim Phillips rode in five of the six races at the popular and much publicised Fernhill Estate Picnic meeting also on Saturday, where he rode the winner of the Open (1150m) sprint in Donna Grisedale’s De Licious Bobbie, as well as two thirds and a fourth in other races. 

Unfortunately he missed a placing in the feature Fernhill Cup, which he won last year at Fernhill Estate’s inaugural meeting. 

Tim will be riding at the Harden Picnic meeting tomorrow and our best wishes will be riding with him. 

Eight Moruya runners ran at the Nowra meeting on Sunday and Roly rode four of them.

 Congratulations to James Curtis on his first placegetter in Rushman who battled up the straight under Roly’s urgings to claim third in the opening Class Two (1400m) race, and showing good improvement in each of his last few starts. 

Mark Macdonald’s Hot Scent also showed marked improvement when finishing a good fourth in the Maiden (1100m) event in what I think will be a good form race. 

The highlight was Roly’s big win once again on Fabulous Dragon for Frank Walden of Braidwood, giving Roly and Frank a running double with the horse after winning two weeks before also at Nowra. 

What a thrill for Frank who has just the one horse in work. 

I hope to bring another good report next week when talking of Thomas Lyttle’s Gatto Mondo who is running at Kembla Grange tomorrow (race two), following her brilliant debut win at Nowra. 

At Canberra today Moruya runners appear in races two, seven and eight and check your guides for our runners at Queanbeyan on Sunday. 

Until next week, good luck and good punting.