Canberra’s Joseph/Jones stable looks to have a contender for autumn’s Country Championships series following the win of Cougars ($8) in last Saturday’s Class 3 TAB Highway Handicap over 1200 metres.
Trained by Barbara Joseph in partnership with sons Paul and Matt Jones, Cougars will likely target the south-east heat of the series at the Sapphire Coast on March 1. 
Despite having drawn awkwardly at Randwick in barrier 10 of 14, apprentice Mollie Fitzgerald was able to cross quickly and settle the four-year-old just off the pace before finishing strongly over the concluding stages to win by a long neck from Joiselle. 
“He felt beautiful from the moment I got on him,” Fitzgerald said. 
“He had a bit of a tricky gate but he has good speed and makes his own luck up on the pace so he got to a beautiful position and travelled lovely throughout. 
“I waited for the run to open up and he was really finding the line nicely. He just wanted to lay in a touch late but I’m absolutely thrilled to have a Saturday winner.”
Super stars
Goulburn trainer Matt Dale said Super Norwest was “heading in the right direction” following the mare’s impressive first-up win in the 1200-metre benchmark 78 at Randwick last Saturday.
With promising apprentice Braith Nock aboard, Super Norwest ($12) scored by 2½ lengths from Godolphin mare Mother Goose. 
“It was a very good return,” Nock said. “We probably ended up a pair further back than I would have thought but they seemed to run along a bit that first half and they probably came back a touch. 
“That’s when I popped out to start to build a bit of momentum. I probably hit the front a bit soon but the job was already done.”
Dale, however, was more than happy with the ride. 
“Braith rode her absolutely perfectly,” he said. “We gave him the option to be one out and one back or go back the extra pair if he needed and he took that option. 
“There was more speed than what was on paper but he’s a very calm rider. 
“That was a big win from her because she’s never wanted to completely put them away. That’s the first time I’ve seen her level up and put them away so she’s heading in the right direction.”
Oui cracker
Earlier, Hawkesbury mare Oui Oui Oui remained undefeated after three starts this preparation with victory in the benchmark 72 Midway Handicap (1400m).
The Jason Attard-trained four-year-old started a $2.20 favourite under Tom Sherry, having begun her campaign with wins at Newcastle and Randwick. She now has five wins from nine starts overall.
Lees on fire
Another provincial-trained city winner last Saturday was Zaphod, from the Kris Lees stable at Newcastle, in the 1825-metre Class 6 at Eagle Farm.
Ridden by Jason Collett, Zaphod ($5.50) scored by a length and a quarter from Perfect Play.
The win was part of a huge holiday weekend for Lees, who’d trained a double at Randwick the previous day led by $250,000 Group 3 Summer Cup (2000m) winner Tavi Time.
Ridden by Dylan Gibbons and backed in from $5.50 to $4.80, Tavi Time scored a comfortable length-and-a-quarter win over Estadio Mestalla. 
Earlier Lees had won the 1000-metre benchmark 78 with Power Of The Brave ($3.30 favourite), ridden by three-kilo claiming apprentice William Stanley. 
Capping Lees’s weekend was the win on Sunday of Kind Words in the $300,000 Group 3 Belle of the Turf (1600m) at Gosford. In a hard-fought finish, Kind Words ($6.50) got up on the line under Tom Sherry to beat the favourite, Hyperbolic. 
In the previous race, the 1200-metre Gosford Guineas for three-year-olds, $1.75 favourite Caffe Florian scored for Warwick Farm trainer Richard Litt. Jason Collett was the winning rider.
Boxing Day wrap
Three-kilo claimer Shannen Llewellyn took last Friday’s feature on the Beaumont track at at Newcastle, winning the 1350-metre Boxing Day Cup on Caltsar ($3.60) for local trainer Nathan Doyle.
At Wauchope the same afternoon, the feature Woop Woop Cup went to local trainer Grant Prosser with My Sonny’s Faith ($6), ridden by Ben Looker. 
Port Macquarie trainer Cassandra Schmidt led in a winning double. 
Riding doubles on Friday went to Cassy Williams at Inverell, Robyn Freeman at Queanbeyan and Ashleigh Stanley at Wellington. 
Apprentices Shae Wilkes and Leeshelle Small shared riding honours at Quirindi with a double apiece. Small won the main race, the 2000-metre Murrurundi Cup, on $2.20 equal favourite Akauwheo for local trainer Geoff O’Brien. 
Coming attractions
This Friday’s action at Taree features the 1300-metre Harrington Cup and a $50,000 Super Maiden (1250m) while at Gundagai the 1400-metre Adelong Cup will be the main attraction. 
Sunday is cup day at Gilgandra, with the feature over 1600 metres Gilgandra Cup and a $50,000 Super Maiden over 1280 metres.