The Tamworth trainer was in the running for the big $20,000 trainers/owners’ Cup day bonus after she had won two of the three legs needed to snare the $20,000 bonanza.

Military Duke’s win in the first race of the day and then Flight In Space’s brilliant sprinting effort to land apprentice Melanie Bolwell her first winner secured Grills two of the necessary three races.

Under the rules of the Marti’s Lime and Ferilizer Services-sponsored bonus, a trainer had to win the Walcha Cup plus two other races on Cup day.

Grills had two Cup runners, Keep It Danish and Couperin. 

Unfortunately, both got back in running and never threatened as Pro Consul surged to grab Pippi’s Pride late and give Scone trainer Greg Bennett and stable foreman Tina Eveleigh a wonderful “home” Cup.

However Grills still cheered.

Earlier in the day Inverell Jockey Club deputy chairman Mike Witherdin had presented her and Darren Jones with the Picone Family Summer Stars Bonus cheques.

The Inverell club, with the support of the Picone bookmaking family, had initiated a trainer, jockey and horse bonus for meetings at the smaller clubs across the northern end of the Hunter and North West Racing 

Association (NNWRA).

The final round was to have been held at Bingara on their Cup day but unfortunately that January 30 meeting was washed out.

“That was disappointing,” Witherdin said.

“But they did have a good day with a phantom meeting and Garry Burgess (bookmaker)  fielded.”

 Grills and Jones had led their trainer and jockey bonuses entering the final round at Bingara and so he handed them their $500 prizes.

“On the day there were six horses who could have won the horse bonus with a win,”  Witherdin said.

“But we had three horses dead heat – Real Blonde (Peter Sinclair), Carry Me Gee Gee (Paddy Cunningham) and Border Flight (Grills).

So he had to “divvy up” the horse bonus.

 Grills was sporting a big grin after pocketing two envelopes.

“It was a great idea,” she said.

Witherdin believes it created a lot of interest across the HNWRA.

“We’ll talk to the sponsors (the Picones) and see if they will be in it again next year,” he said.

“Hopefully we’ll make it bigger and better.”