Goulburn trainer Danny Williams added another TAB Highway race to his growing collection when My Blue Jeans ($10) took out last Saturday’s edition of the series under Kerrin McEvoy at Rosehill. 
The three-year-old, who still has a tendency to race a little greenly at times, was able to settle just off the leader in the 1500-metre Class 3 before leaving the fence and moving up to challenge in the straight. 
After hitting the front inside the final 100 metres, the gelding fought on strongly to hold off the fast-finishing Gronky by a half-neck. Dia de Reyes, who also finished the race off well from back in the field, claimed third. 
“He had me worried when he found himself in front because he can do a lot wrong,” Williams said. “But when he was covered up, he straightened up. 
“He got his head up early and wanted to lay out which he’s done in the past, but he seems better when he’s surrounded by horses, so it panned out well.”
The trainer said he’d been confident going into Saturday’s race as My Blue Jeans had improved since winning a maiden at Canterbury 10 days earlier. 
“He’d certainly gone forward. He had a gallop on Wednesday with (recent Highway runner-up) Hemmerle and there wasn’t much between them, so on that gallop I thought he’d be hard to beat. 
“I thought he was under pressure at the 300 metres and I thought he may not get the trip, but he dug deep.”  
McEvoy suggested there was further improvement to come from My Blue Jeans.
“He’ still raw and new and fought me all the way,” he said. 
“I was quite surprised when he picked up underneath me when I asked him for an effort in the straight. Once he learns to settle he’ll be better again.”
Williams will drop My Blue Jeans back to 1400 metres for another Highway race at Rosehill on Saturday week, a move McEvoy endorses.
PB for Lees­
Envy of All’s win in the T.L. Cooney Handicap (1100m) for three-year-olds at Ipswich last Saturday saw Newcastle trainer Kris Lees achieve a personal best. 
The $3,90 favourite’s win was Lees’s 161st for the season, beating the 160½ winners he trained last season. 
“Overall it’s been a very good season for the stable even though we haven’t had much luck in the Group 1 races,” he said. “We’ve had seven placings including some very near misses.”
The trainer, currently fifth on the national trainers premiership, added to his tally the following day with wins at both Port Macquarie and Muswellbrook. 
Trip suits Zamex
Still on Ipswich, Murwillumbah trainer Matthew Dunn was another southern raider to taste success north of the Tweed with Zamex ($10).
Ridden by Corey Brown, the four-year-old appreciated a step up in distance to take out the 1660-metre benchmark 80. 
The four-year-old defeated El Campeador by three-quarters of a length with Denbern a further short neck away in third.
Two cups for Cav
Sunday was a big one for Scone trainer Brett Cavanough, who claimed two country cups in less than 20 minutes. 
His double began at Port Macquarie in the feature Wauchope RSL Cup (1506m) with Brazen ($9), ridden by local jockey Peter Graham. 
The five-year-old, who appreciated the soft 6 surface, finished the race off strongly to defeat Cogliere by two lengths with last-start winner Blinkin Artie a further three-quarters of a length away in third spot. 
Just a few minutes later, Cavanough brought up his cup double when Still Undaunted ($6.50) took out the Aberdeen Cup (1280m) at Muswellbrook under Travis Wolfgram. 
In a hard-fought finish, Still Undaunted defeated Gadfly, with favourite King Lear finishing on into third place. 
The win brought up a hat-trick for Still Undaunted and took the four-year-old’s record to an impressive seven wins from 15 starts.
Zaphod stars
Last Saturday’s annual Bligh picnic meeting at Mudgee saw Narromine trainer Kylie Kennedy lead the way with two winners including $1.90 favourite Zaphod in the Bligh Picnic Cup (1850m). 
Locally based Gayna Williams also trained a double
Riding honours went to Ricky Blewitt, who rode three winners on the six-race program.      
Cafe brings Hoy joy
I don’t know if Cafe Terrace will start favourite in betting for Saturday’s 1700-metre benchmark 55 at Cowra, but he is certain to start the sentimental favourite. 
The five-year-old is trained locally by 81-year-old George Hoy and is the only horse the veteran mentor has in work. 
“He’s a beaut horse,” Hoy said of the gelding. “I don’t know how we bought him for just $5000 — he’s a bargain and he’s my best mate.” 
Café Terrace has a bit more than sentiment in his favour heading in to Saturday’s race. 
At his last run the galloper raced away to win by four lengths at Wellington over 1400 metres.
It was a super win given he jumped from the outside gate, had to work early to get the lead and was challenged from the 800 metres. 
Certainly Hoy has no doubts about the horse’s prospects. 
“He’s going enormous and Saturday’s race has been on the radar for a while,” he said. “He’s bucking his brands off and will take plenty of beating.”
One thing’s for sure — win or lose, Hoy will be back in the stable Sunday morning looking after his “best mate”.
“I love training horses. It keeps me alive,” the veteran told media.