TRAINER Mack Griffith was both relieved and puzzled after Pera Pera (Aaron Bullock) returned to form to win Sunday's $30,000 Bengalla Cup (1280m) at Muswellbrook.
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He was relieved his six-year-old gelding had re-discovered his best form but still puzzled by his eighth at Grafton on Cup day at his previous start.
"I thought he was a winning chance at Grafton," Griffith said.
"He was spot on and I have no idea what happened. It is still a mystery, but a relief that he has won this.
"I am not sure where we will go with him now, but I might send him to Brisbane. Binnalong Road has been up there for the last six weeks and he has been up to Rockhampton and Mackay and then ran second at Doomben.
"I have staff up there to look after him and I might leave Pera Pera up there with them as well."
Aaron Bullock settled Pera Pera in third place early with the heavily backed Annandale Lass setting up a big lead.
However, she ran off on the turn and Bullock shot Pera Pera through to the lead and he raced away to win by two and a half lengths from the Stephen Gleeson trained outsider Dancing Daydream with Nick On The Run a further long head away third.
Kody Nestor headed west on Saturday to the Louth cup meeting and booted home a winner from five rides before backing up to boot home a winning double at Muswellbrook.
Nestor won the first race, the Kalolane Food Services Maiden (1750m) on Able Chap for Wyong trainer Damien Lane and later the Wear Parts Services Class One (1280m) on Iwatani for Tamworth trainer Mark Hatch.
Rod Northam produced a promising filly in L'Elu, which was impressive in winning the Tutt Bryant Three Year Old Maiden (1000m) on debut.
He believes she will develop into a carnival horse and will probably give her one more start, then turn her out for next autumn.
"She is not a big filly but she is strong and I think we will see the best of her over a mile," Northam said.
"I was impressed with the win and the way she quickened in the straight.
“I know it was only a maiden, but I think she has a big future.
I am not sure where we will go with him now but I might send him to Brisbane
- Mack Griffith on Pera Pera
"I have been holding her together and nominating at different meetings because of wet tracks and wide barriers. She drew a decent barrier today, so we decided to let her run."