A double at Healesville last Saturday kept four-time premier and defending champion Don Dwyer in touch with leading trainer Troy Kilgower at the top of the 2024/25 table.
Kilgower went seven wins clear on top of the table when he claimed the opening race of the day with the Squamosa gelding Squabbie ($4.60), who broke through for his maiden win at start 11 underneath Sebastian Galea.
But two winners from the last three races saw Dwyer bridge the gap to five with plenty of time to go in the season — 13 meetings to be precise.
Dwyer’s American Pharoah mare Wilma Wombat ($9) caused a minor upset when she won her second race for the season, having been successful at Mansfield back in November.
It was a return to form for the five-year-old, who had finished down the track at her prior two starts.
Less of a shock was the win of Pine Valley in the final event as the $4.40 favourite.
It was the fourth win of the season for the son of Spieth and he is now firmly in the running for Horse of the Year, currently sitting one win off Lika Mosh and Spirit Maker.
It was a tough effort by Pine Valley, who held out the stablemate Smart Ace despite that horse getting in with 8kg less after the claim for young Frenchman Tom Brassart.
Mel Mac doubles up
Shaun Cooper was aboard both Dwyer’s winners and shared riding honours at Healesville with Melinda McDonald, who also chimed in with a double.
Cooper’s double saw him go to 21 winners for the season and extend his lead to eight over the chasing Leigh Taylor and 10 over McDonald. (The retired Grant Seccombe finished on 17.)
Cooper’s loyal supporters were well rewarded if they stuck fat with Wilma Wombat, who returned a juicy $9. Even Pine Valley in the last was a “backable” favourite.
Mel McDonald was the punters’ friend when she notched another win on the Robbie Laing-trained Bluebilee ($1.90 favourites) who defied her 70kg impost, proving too quick for her rivals for the third time this season
In the next race McDonald helped break the maiden of five-year-old Rock Hero mare Smashing Ruby ($4), who saluted at start 22.
It was a patient wait for trainer John Rattle, who has prepared the mare since the beginning. The $1500 yearling had raced on the TAB circuit until last Saturday.
Big year for Bokeem
The Jody Thompson-trained Bokeem ($3.60 favourite) continued his productive season, proving too strong for his rivals in the 1200-metre open trophy.
The Rubick five-year-old has been in good form, with top-four finishes recently at Kerang and Burrumbeet TAB fixtures, and looked well placed back to picnic level.
Bokeem was a winner at the Jerilderie non-TAB meeting in September and at Gunbower in October, his season yielding three wins from 12 starts and $27,615 in earnings. It was the third win in the saddle this season for Ben Moffat.