Former long-time maiden Crafty Boss has turned into a bargain buy for Warrnambool trainer Geoff Withers.
Crafty Boss ($16) won his third race from eight starts for Withers in last Friday’s $75,000 Country Mile Series heat at Colac. 
The win took the chesnut’s prizemoney tally past $67,000 since the hobby trainer bought him for $11,000 in an online sale from fellow local trainer Aaron Purcell.
The gelding, who began his racing life in Tasmania with Scott Brunton and then John Keys, arrived at the Withers stable as a 21-start maiden.
Crafty Boss is now eligible to run in the $250,000 Country Mile Series final at Caulfield on Saturday March 15.
“I’m still pinching myself,” Withers said. 
“He came to me in great order from Aaron. I think he’s enjoyed the individual time that I spend with him as he’s the only horse I have in work. 
“It’s a huge thrill to think he’s in the final. I’m still trying to work out if we give Crafty Boss one more run or we go straight into it.”
Warrnambool-based jockey Tom Madden had the winning ride on Crafty Boss at Colac.
Marg was a marvel
The Warrnambool Racing Club is preparing a shortlist of four candidates for its third Hall of Fame induction ceremony in April and the committee will be remiss in its duties if it fails to acknowledge the late Margaret Lucas.
Lucas, who died in December following a battle with cancer, was a groundbreaker, leading the way for woman to get involved in racing. 
Her intelligence, passion and work ethic, not to mention her ability to defend jumps racing when the sport was under fire, make her an odds-on favourite to be acknowledged at the club’s 2025 Hall of Fame function.
Margaret Lucas was the first woman to be appointed to the Warrnambool Racing Club committee, a position she held for more than 20 years, and was the club’s chair for 10. She led a rally of more than 200 jumps followers at Racing Victoria headquarters after the sport was suspended in 2009. 
She rode at local shows as a youngster, making annual appearances at the Royal Melbourne Show and occasional appearances at the Royal Easter Show in Sydney. 
She was heavily involved in breeding prizewinning Welsh mountain ponies. Her knowledge on all aspects of horse management saw her develop ways for horses to work after their racing careers were over, ensuring they were looked after through their lives.
The 2025 Hall of Fame induction and WRC May carnival launch will take place on Friday April 4.
Popular party on pause
The popular “That Day In May” function at Woolsthorpe’s Union Station Hotel on the eve of Warrnambool’s May racing carnival will not be held in 2025. 
The event, which has raised many thousands of dollars for local charities since its inception three years ago, was organised by Colin and Janice McKenna. 
Colin McKenna died from brain cancer on October 27 last year.
Janice McKenna said she was disappointed the event had to be cancelled but hoped people would understand the event having a break.
“There’s been so many things going on since Colin’s passing,” she said. 
“Colin loved that event and the day. We just felt we needed a bit of time to catch our breath. 
“One of the ways we could do that was to cancel the event and inform everyone now.”
This year’s Warrnambool carnival is on April 29-30 and May 1.
Rule begins reign
Former Warrnambool Racing Club chairman Nick Rule has taken over as chair of the Australian Jumps Racing Association following its annual general meeting last Thursday. 
Rule replaces Sandy McGregor, who decided to stand down from the top job and the committee after a long involvement.
“Sandy has done a marvellous job while on the AJRA, firstly as a committeeman and then as chairman,’ Rule said. 
“He guided jumps racing through some tough times and now we’re looking for a positive time for the sport. The AJRA is looking to a successful 2025 jumps season.”
Jess Pateman was elected as deputy chair.
Happy as Harry
Former Warrnambool trainer Maureen Harry had her biggest pay day as an owner-trainer since 2006 at Doomben last Saturday.
Harry led her family’s gelding Arizona Dreaming back into the winner’s stall after the six-year-old won the $85,000 Gibson Benchmark 70 Handicap (2200m), picking up $48,800 for his connections.
“It was a huge thrill,” Harry said. “The last day we had a good payday like this was back in 2006 when old Bomber Bill won at Sandown. 
“Arizona Dreaming was only having his 10th run for us. He had a couple of feet issues when I bought him in an online sale. My farrier has done a sensational job getting his feet right. 
“We’ve got nothing big planned but I think there’s still a few more wins in him.”
Arizona Dreaming took his overall stake earnings to $159,385 from 29 starts with Saturday’s win. He’s earned $72,800 in his 10 starts for the Harry family.
Black-booker
• Dashing Duchess: Caught the eye with a fast-finishing fifth in the $200,000 Group 3 JRZ Plate at Caulfield last Saturday for Warrnambool trainer Symon Wilde. The five-year-old will be improved with that first-up run under her belt and can be followed with confidence now.