Murwillumbah trainer Matthew Dunn staged yet another successful raid north of the Tweed last Saturday when Madotti ($4.60), ridden by Tye Angland, took out the Magic Millions Quality (1300m) at the Gold Coast. 
After leading most of the way, the four-year-old Falvelon mare fought back gamely to score a narrow win over In His Stride.
It was only Madotti’s fourth win from 19 starts, but the $600,000 winner’s cheque took her winnings past the $1 million mark. 
“She drew a barrier and finally got the job done — it’s been a while coming,” said Dunn. 
“After she won at Rosehill (November 26), Tye said she’d come back a lot angrier. She is more determined and really that has showed.”
Deanne gets it done
Congratulations to former south-coast apprentice Deanne Panya, who celebrated the biggest win of her career when she rode the Gary Portelli-trained Testashadow ($31) to victory in the $1 million Woodford Reserve Magic Millions Cup (1400m). 
Testashadow got up in the tightest of finishes, scoring by a nose from the Matthew Dunn-trained Perfect Dare, with a further nose to third placegetter Snippets Land. 
“We got a good position early on and from there he travelled beautifully in the run,” said Panya.
Taree next for Cogliere
Saturday was a good one for northern NSW stables, with Randwick’s Class 2 TAB Highway Handicap (1400m) won by the Port Macquarie galloper Cogliere ($5), trained by Marc Quinn and ridden by ex-Port apprentice Adam Atkins. 
The win had added meaning for Atkins as he is now indentured to Ron Quinton, whose wife, Margaret, died suddenly last week. 
“Margaret was definitely riding with me the last 100 metres,” said an emotional Atkins. 
“He was the best horse in the race so it was a matter of keeping him balanced. They didn’t go overly quickly and he was strong over the line.”
After the win, Quinn announced that he will now set the three-year-old for the Country Championships, giving him his next start in February’s Taree qualifier. 
“It’s a bit of a balancing act, but I think he should be a really good chance in the qualifier,” Quinn said. 
“I thought it was a great win. Al Cabana kept pushing him wide and he was three deep facing the breeze. He had to tough it out, but in the end, his class shone through.”
Jello too solid
Newcastle trainer Kris Lees, who’s well ensconced in the national trainers premiership top 10, extended his metropolitan winning streak at the Randwick meeting when Admiral Jello ($2.90 favourite), ridden by English jockey James Doyle, scored a convincing win in the 2400-metre benchmark 83. 
The four-year-old, who appreciated the solid pace, hit the front topping the Randwick rise and was untroubled from there. 
“He knuckled down well. He’s definitely a horse on the up,” said Doyle.
Tri, treble for Paddy
Local trainer Paddy Cunningham completed back-to-back Glen Innes Cup successes when Hula Girl ($9), ridden by Matthew Paget, took out Saturday’s Hec’s Motor Clinic Glen Innes Cup (1400m). 
Second place went to last year’s winner, Carry Me Gee Gee, with Our Minaan running third to give Cunningham the trifecta.
The win completed a treble for the trainer, who had scored earlier with Super Cooper and Duchilli.
Good Lass
Bjorn Baker may have met with disappointment at the Gold Coast last Saturday when hot favourite Winning Rupert finished fourth in the Gold Coast Guineas, but stable followers had no cause for concern at Gosford the day before.
Baker’s Makfi mare Imposing Lass started a $2.80 favourite in the Group 3 Belle of the Turf (1600m) and duly made light work of her wide barrier. 
Jockey Jason Collett was able to cross quickly from gate 11 in the 12-horse field and settle the mare just off the pace before making his move on the turn. 
Imposing Lass soon took the lead and went on to score a comfortable length win from Queen of Wands with Sewreel third.
Red all the way
In the following race, the $150,000 listed Gosford Gold Cup (2100 metres), jockey Adam Hyeronimous had no hesitation in going straight to the front on the Gerald Ryan-trained Red Excitement ($3.70). 
After dictating the pace Hyeronimous was able to steal what proved to be a winning break approaching the turn, with Red Excitement going on to score by two lengths under hands-and-heels riding. 
The $3.50 favourite, Sense of Occasion, ran on into second placing with Destiny’s Kiss third. 
It was win number 13 for the Gerald Ryan trained seven-year-old and took the gelding’s prizemoney tally past $880,000. 
Kuro swoops
The feature sprint on the Gosford card, the listed Takeover Target Stakes (1200m), saw the Joseph Pride-trained Kuro, ridden by Josh Parr, storm down the centre of the track to score by a length from His Majesty, with Pride’s other runner, Ball of Muscle, claiming third.
Worth the wait
In the final race on the program, the Angela Davies-trained Waitandwatch, ridden by apprentice Blaike McDougall, made it four wins from four starts this preparation. 
The five-year-old gelding, who has been plagued by injury problems, has now won five of his seven starts. He started at a surprisingly generous $6 in last Friday’s 1200-metre Class 4.
Coolcat’s cup
On Monday, the Moruya Jockey Club staged its Showcase meeting, highlighted by the North Ryde RSL Moruya Cup. The race was won by the well fancied Coolcat Dancer ($4.80), trained by Richard Clarke and ridden by Grant Buckley. 
Buckley was able to switch off the heels of the leaders in the straight and, once in the clear, Coolcat Dancer finished strongly to defeat Marquee and Sigmund.