SMART Bet arrived on time to grab well-backed King Kestrel and win Saturday’s feature race at Gunnedah, the Boggabri RSL Club Boggabri Cup (2050m).
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The Les Roberts-trained King Kestrel had been the medium of some good bets leading into the Benchmark 49 Handicap and led until the final 50m when Melanie Bolwell and Smart Bet flashed to a half length win.
Bolwell, 22, is apprenticed to Sue Grills at Tamworth.
Grills’ former apprentice, Sophie Young, had won the first two races at Gunnedah on Boggabri Cup day and then Bolwell ended something of a drought as well.
“We’ve all been going through a bit of dry spell,” Bolwell said of Grills and Young.
Sue Grills had ended her drought by training four winners the previous weekend and then the two female riders backed up with their own successes.
“That was my 12th win,” Bolwell added.
“I’m enjoying it, it is hard work but it pays off.”
She thought she might have given King Kestrel too much of a break but “it was a good effort in the end”.
Theresa Lennon trains Smart Bet at Inverell, but is on an overseas holiday at the moment.
She entrusted husband, Josh, with the reins and he was delighted with the seven-year-old mare’s third race win from a total of 34 career starts.
“She’s been a good honest old mare for us,’ Josh Lennon said.
“She’s won three for us now and run a lot of places. She’s always at the right end and trying her heart out.”
Smart Bet, a daughter of Casino Prince, lifted her career prizemoney past $34,000.
Bolwell made it a double on the day when she saved Cedee Prince for a late and final dash to win the TAB.com.au Happy Birthday Tania Benchmark 50 Handicap (1300m).
The Peter Cleal-trained One Tin Soldier and Jodi Worley had led all the way before Cedee Prince arrived late to notch a nose win, giving trainer Sue Grills her 22nd winner of the season.
Sue’s son, Todd Grills, was in charge of the stable’s runners and he was delighted for Melanie to ride a double as well as Cedee Prince notching a third career win.
“That was a bit of a surprise,” he said of Cedee Prince’s return to the winners stall.
“He had run a good race at Walcha though when he had an awkward run.
“He was real fit too. Mel did a great job and we’re very happy to win for Allan Piddington.
“He’s been a real good client for many years.”
The hoop offering her thoughts on the race.
“He travelled well. I just sat and let them go and had a good run into it,” she said.
