Kelilah Leads Big Day of Chances at Dubbo
Melissa Harrison is readying her team for a big day at Dubbo on Sunday, with up to six runners going around on the Winter Country Classic race day.
Last-start winner Kelilah (59kg) leads the stable’s chances in the $30,000 Winter Country Classic final, with stable apprentice Jess Del Frari taking the ride from gate seven.
The 5YO Territories mare broke through for a well-overdue victory in the fillies and mares qualifier at Dubbo on June 5. The Forbes galloper will strip fitter for the final, and Del Frari knows Kelilah inside and out.
Another last-start winner for the stable is King Cornelius (58kg), a knockout chance in the 2200m Benchmark 66 Handicap, where he has drawn gate three. The former Victorian debuted for Harrison at Warren on June 1 and, with Clayton Gallagher in the saddle, powered to a 3.69-length victory in the 2400m Benchmark 58 Handicap.
Gallagher keeps the ride but it is a tough event, with seven last-start winners doing battle.
Both Street Parade (64.5kg) and Pattera (58.5kg) take on the 1200m Benchmark 58 Handicap. Jasmine Urquhart-Warren, who rides with a four-kilogram claim, is aboard Street Parade, who has drawn the car park in gate 16.
Stablemate Pattera gets in better at the weights and has Del Frari in the saddle. The 5YO Zoustar gelding, a last-start winner in a 1065m Benchmark 50 Handicap at Wagga on May 23, is every chance from gate five.
Glowing Rapids (60kg) resumes from a let-up in the 1000m Benchmark 66 Handicap, again with Del Frari in the saddle. The 5YO Valentia gelding is a four-time winner and was racing in great fashion before the break, winning the 1200m Benchmark 58 Handicap at Cowra on March 9. In preparation for this event, Del Frari rode Glowing Rapids to a 1000m trial win at Dubbo on June 5.
Spunky Reward (55.5kg) will be second-up in the 1400m Maiden Handicap. The 4YO Reward For Effort mare, who has Del Frasri on board, resumed from a spell at Warren earlier in the month, finishing seventh over 1200m, and will strip fitter for the run.
Words: Jeff Hanson/Dusty Hooves Media
Image: Janian McMillan/Racinh Photography