The deadly trainer/jockey combination of Brett Robb and Clayton Gallagher struck again at Wyong’s metro-class meeting last Saturday, taking the Class 3 TAB Highway Handicap (1100m) with Wilbury ($17).
It was Wilbury’s second win in the Highway series, his first coming in a Class 2 edition over the same distance at Rosehill on December 2, 2023. 
He had been winless since, but had only had three starts in that period (for two minor placings). Last Sunday he was first up off a seven-month spell.
Gallagher settled his mount midfield before forging a path through the field to hit the front inside the final 100 metres and then hold off the fast-finishing Eagle Hawk Star by a half-neck, with Announcing another short half-head away third. 
“I take my hat off to Clayton,” said Dubbo-based Robb. “He’s a hard horse to handle on raceday and at home but he comes in and rides him and he does a good job with him.”
Wilbury’s generous price may have reflected the fact that he was winless from seven previous first-up starts.
“He hasn’t won first up previously but we’ve given him plenty of work at home. He came here, paraded well and looked well. We were confident,” Robb explained. 
Having won two Highways, Wilbury is now ineligible for those races.  
“He’s only a 65-rater (70 following the win) and there’s a race coming up at Dubbo in a few weeks which I think is a benchmark 74,” Robb said. 
“He could go there and then we might try for a midweek after that.”
Wherever Wilbury goes, Gallagher is almost certain to be on board. The trainer/jockey combination has now chalked up 92 wins at a strike rate better than 25 per cent — quite an achievement. 
Goldane looks good
Earlybirds at Newcastle last Friday were updating their black books after the opening race on the program, the $60,000 Super Maiden (900m) went to $2.45 favourite and first-starter Goldane, from the in-form Bjorn Baker stable. 
The three-year-old filly, ridden by three-kilo claiming apprentice Olivia Chambers, never looked in danger of defeat in recording an impressive 3¼-length win over Aegipan. 
Shaggy goes boombastic
Another first-starter who got the job done for the favourite-backers last weekend was the Allen Kehoe-trained Shaggy at Coffs Harbour on Sunday.
Backed as if unbeatable ($1.30-$1.14) in the 800-metre two-year-olds’ maiden with Aaron Bullock in the saddle, the Sandbar gelding scored a dominant 5¾-length win over What A Rush with Ol’ Mate Coop a further length away in third place. 
Shaggy’s three-length trial win at Newcastle on December 30 had the punters brimming with a confidence that was not misplaced.
In the following race, the $50,000 Super Maiden (1000m), punters were again on target with the well backed favourite Enuff Pills ($3.50-$2.90) racing away to a 3½-length win over Miss Graysea. 
The winner is trained at Beaudesert by Tenille Ranger and was ridden by apprentice Siena Grima. 
At Nowra the same afternoon Alysha Collett and Chad Lever shared riding honours with a double apiece.
At the Muswellbrook meeting on Monday trainers Todd Howlett and Jan Bowen led in doubles while jockey Ashley Morgan rode two winners. The last of the seven races had to be abandoned following heavy rain.
Bengal a bargain buy
Buying a racehorse is always a gamble but for one group of owners, the gamble has paid off in quick time. 
I refer to the connections of the Luke Pepper-trained Bengal. They purchased the three-year-old for $42,500 via Inglis Digital after six starts for one minor placing in the care of Chris Waller. 
At his first start for Canberra-based Pepper, at Moruya on January 6, the Zoustar gelding won a $50,000 Super Maiden for which first prize was $27,625. 
More significantly, they received a further $100,000 courtesy of the Inglis Xtra Bonus Series. That’s a return of $127,625 for an investment of $42,000.
One wonders if the new owners capped their day by backing Bengal at the $16 SP.
Hoop’s now an ambo
Former jockey Eleanor Webster-Hawes, who featured in this column several years ago, has kept up her involvement in racing via her new position as a paramedic.  
During her riding career Webster-Hawes rode 105 winners at 33 tracks, her biggest success coming in the 2018 Country Championship heat at Mudgee, where she rode $51 chance Cosmologist to victory. 
While she was riding, Webster-Hawes began planning for a career post-racing, winning a Dean’s Award for her results at Charles Sturt University. 
She now works for the Cowra branch of Ambulance NSW and regularly attends race meetings in her new capacity.
Summer feast
All eyes will be on Ballina this Friday for the $65,000 Ballina Cup (1590m), with Big Dance eligibility for the winner, supported by a $50,000 Super Maiden over 1300 metres. 
The Moruya Jockey Club also races Friday, while Saturday sees racing at Tumut and Tuncurry. 
Sunday is cup day at Cowra, with the $36,000 feature over 1700 metres. The two main supporting races will be the 1200-metre Japan Cup and a $50,000, Super Maiden Plate (1375m). 
Farewell, Charlie
Condolences to the family and friends of former Newcastle trainer Charlie Porter, who died recently at the age of 89.  
Born at Cowra in 1935, Porter was 34 years old when he moved to Newcastle. He was a successful trainer for decades, with Framoli one of his best horses, winning 17 races including the 1987 Scone Cup and two races at Randwick. Lemana won eight races (two at Randwick) in the late 1970s and early ’80s while Mon De Arl won eight races including two at Rosehill during the ’90s.
A celebration of his life was held at Glendale on Monday