HANDS Up stuck 'em up at Gunnedah on Monday.
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The Sally Torrens-trained gelding defied a wide run to surge home an easy winner in the Gunnedah Hotel GJC Like Us On Facebook Maiden Handicap (1000m).
The former Victorian galloper snared his first win for owner-trainer Sally Torrens with a victory that suggests he will win more over longer distances.
"I thought 1000m might be a bit short for him," Torrens said.
"He hit the line very strong but is still a bit immature, still learning what it's about."
Mollie Partridge, who claimed 2kg, was having her first ride on the three-year-old gelding son of Time Thief.
"He wanted to run about a bit," Mollie said.
Torrens had five runners at Gunnedah on Monday and while she also had recent Moree winner Buck Rogers entered for Gunnedah scratched him for Sunday's 1600m benchmarked 60 handicap at Quirindi.
He was part of 20 nominations for that feature race while the QJC received a huge 181 nominations for the seven-race program.
Leon Davies' Brilliant Poet was also amongst those 20 nominations and comes off a last start fourth at Narromine.
The five-year-old gelding was also fourth at his previous start in Tamworth while his last win came at Dubbo on March 20.
Davies also celebrated a win at Gunnedah on Monday with Bowie's Babe.
The three-year-old filly had won three of her 14 starts before Monday's victory with Darren Jones aboard.
"She found when I asked her," Darren Jones told Sky Thoroughbred Central after the race.
"It was another good ride from Darren," Davies added. "She never runs a bad race though."
Six thirds testify to that consistency. She is owned and raced by Katrina and Brett Bowman, stalwart clients for Davies who is also coming off a good Grafton Cup Carnival where Crooked Blaze, won the Class 6 handicap for the second year running.
QUIRINDI B60 NOMS (1600m): Blonic Hill (George Woodward), Brilliant Poet (Leon Davies) 60, Buck Rogers (Sally Torrens) 53, Code Word (Troy O'Neile), Cuban Lass (Garry Lunn) 66, Ima Baker (Wayne Martyn), Loading (Charlie Porter) 48, Military Honour (Greg Drury), Minimos (George Woodward) 52, Missing In Action (Sue Grills), My Sister Sue (Allan Kehoe), Raised For Battle (Mark Milton) 54, Star Reflection (Kris Lees) 58, Storm Ahead (Sandra McCormack) 55, Strike Zone (Bryan Dixon), Strong Boy (Gayna Williams) 58, Tramotane (Nick Mitchell) 56, Unadulterated (Paul Perry) 49, Valatia (Scott Thompson) 57, What A Racquet (Derek Piper) 58.