Coffs Harbour trainer Brett Dodson is celebrating the biggest win of his career after Petticoat ($4) led all the way under apprentice Anna Roper in the benchmark 78 $160,000 Lawrie McKinna Mayor’s Cup (1100m) at Wyong last Saturday. 
It was the four-year-old mare’s fifth win from 15 starts and based on that performance there are more in store. 
“She’ll go to the paddock now. She’s done a great job this preparation,” said Dodson. 
“I think she’ll come back a better horse with the break under her belt. In the right race, I don’t think a fillies-and-mares stakes race is out of her reach. 
“I’m not exactly sure where we’ll go with her; there are a lot of options, which is a good problem to have. She’s giving us a great ride. 
“She was really good today. We brought her down yesterday morning to beat the heat but I knew it wouldn’t worry her because she’s so relaxed. 
“She’s got that speed but she got squeezed out one day at the Gold Coast, came from last and still won by five (lengths). If she ever had to come from off the pace I wouldn’t see it worrying her.” 
Saturday’s win boosted the mare’s earnings to $341,625, an excellent return on the $100,000 she cost at the 2023 Magic Millions sales.
Crusader on the march
Mudgee trainer Mark Jones has the Country Championships firmly in his sights after a thrilling win to Crusader Kings ($9) in the Class 3 TAB Highway Hanidcap over 1100 metres at Wyong. 
Just a half-head separated the first three over the line, Crusader Kings getting the verdict over Beaumista with Nimble Star third. 
“It was a close finish. I wasn’t sure if we’d got there or not but we did and it’s my first Saturday winner,” part-owner Nick Vanveld told media following the win. 
“It’s a big thrill. Couldn’t be happier. This is my first horse with Mark, who I’ve known for 15-odd years. We met on a European cruise and struck up a friendship from there through our mutual interest in horses.”
Saturn stars
Flying the flag for local trainers at Wyong’s metro-class Saturday meeting was Damien Lane, who picked up the benchmark 72 Midway Handicap (1600m) with Oakfield Saturn ($4.20).
With Anna Roper in the saddle, Oakfield Saturn sat just off the lead then forged to the front before the home turn, staving off the late challenge of Perfect Justice to win by a head, with $2.25 favourite Charleroi a further three-quarters of a length away in third place. 
“She’s been a super horse for the stable,” Lane said of Oakfield Saturn.
“She was a bit stiff the other day in the Midway when she stepped a bit slow and had to wait for the run. 
“Jase (Jason Collett, who rode her in that race) actually suggested blinkers after he won on her a couple of starts ago. I think the key move here was putting them on. 
“She had to do a bit of work early but Anna persevered. She got outside the lead then went at a good clip, not going too fast, and she was strong.”
Tight track? No Drama
On a decent day for country and provincial stables, Goulburn-based Matthew Dale took out the $160,000 benchmark 78 over 1200 metres with No Drama ($12).
Three-kilo claimer William Stanley had sent Mogo Magic straight to the front and adopted catch-me-if-you can tactics, which looked like paying off until the solid pace took its toll.
 No Drama and favourite Mailata reeled in the tearaway late, with No Drama winning by a half-length from Mailata, Mogo Magic holding on for third. 
“It was a good result,” Dale said. “He’s been … a genuine, free-rolling, on-speed and tough horse. 
“We found this race on a Saturday because, for such a big horse, he likes tight-turning tracks. 
“He’s won a couple at Canterbury for me and at The Valley before I got him, so to get a ‘stand-alone’ on a tight track, off-season, it was a perfect set-up to roll the dice and have a crack at a Saturday race with him again.”
Dale’s sentiments were shared by winning jockey Josh Parr.
“He loves tight-turning tracks, which is strange for a big horse. Matt had him primed for today. It was a good effort.”
No Drama’s win took his prizemoney haul to $302,092, not bad for a country-trained galloper.
Around the traps
At Queanbeyan last Saturday, Robyn Freeman rode three winners on a five-race program. At Glen Innes, two-kilo claiming apprentice Shakira Bailey rode a double. 
John Thompson took the training honours at Kembla the same afternoon with a winning double.
At Coffs Harbour on Sunday, the $50,000 Super Maiden (1305m) went to $2.70 favourite Indiana Dream, trained at Wyong by Allan Kehoe, while Gold Card ($6.50) took the feature Pink Silks Cup (1205m) for Taree’s Lyndall Olson.
Coming attractions
This Friday is Showcase day at Ballina, featuring the Ballina Cup (1590m), a Big Dance eligibility race, and a $50,000 Super Maiden (1100m). 
Sunday is cup day at Cowra, with the main race over 1700 metres and the Japan Cup (1200m) for the sprinters.