Warrnambool filly Swoboda is heading to the spelling paddock after breaking through for her maiden win at Colac last Friday.
Racing on pace at her seventh start, the $2.45 favourite hung on under Dean Yendall to defeat Fierce Dreams over 1100 metres.
Trainer Patrick Ryan said the Toronado filly deserved her victory.
“It was a really good maiden to win — excellent prizemoney and a VOBIS bonus,” he said.
Swoboda earned $31,775 including bonuses, taking her overall bank to $60,860.
“She probably should have won a maiden before this,” Ryan said. “She’s been unlucky a couple of times. 
“We’ll give her a break now. She’s still growing. She’s a late maturer and with a bit of time I’m quietly confident she’s up to winning a midweek race in town.”
Cup plan comes together
Trainer Lindsey Smith landed his third Colac Cup and jockey Dean Yendall his sixth when Active Duty led all the way in last Friday’s 2000-metre feature.
Smith trained at Warrnambool when he won Colac Cups with Performance (2020) and Glitter ’n’ Gold (2023). He is now based at Geelong.
“I’ve had a bit of luck in the Colac Cup,” he said after the win of $2.30 favourite Active Duty. 
“I had it in mind for him for a few weeks and it’s very rewarding when the plan comes off. 
“He’s been a very honest horse for his connections. There are no big plans — we’ll just try and find similar class races for him.”
From 23 starts, Active Duty has five wins, 10 minor placings and $203,085 in earnings.
It wasn’t all good news for Yendall, who copped an 11-meeting ban and $1000 fine for overuse of the whip on Active Duty.
Yendall’s prior Colac Cup wins came on Aurora’s Symphony (2023), Hard ’n’ Tough (2021), Scelto (2015), Chord (2013) and Constant Force (2012).
Milestone man kicks on
Former Warrnambool boy Teo Nugent took the riding honours at Colac with a treble, having notched his 500th winner as part of a double at Pakenham the night before.
Nugent, 27, has ridden 58 winners in 2025/26 and is hoping to get to 100 before the season closes on July 31.
An old boy of Warrnambool’s Brauer College, he rode his first winner at Seymour in October 2017.
Nugent’s wife Claira is expecting their first child, a girl, in June.
“We’re getting everything ready at home,” Nugent said. “There’s a lot still to do but it’s all coming together. 
“The most important thing at this stage is Claira is going really well. 
“We’re both aware June is coming around really quick.”
Symon sweeps
Top Warrnambool trainer Symon Wilde dominated last Sunday’s Naracoorte Cup meeting, with three runners on the eight-race card for three winners. 
Wilde won the Naracoorte Cup (2000m) with El James ($4.40 equal favourite). Rochelle Milnes was the winning rider.
Campbell Rawiller rode his other winners — Rubiquity ($7) in 0-54 grade over 1200 metres and Wichitall ($4.40) in a 1430-metre benchmark 58.
Black-booker
• Merry Jack: The five-year-old resumed in an 1100-metre maiden at Ararat last Sunday, failing to muster speed in the early stages before finishing the race off strongly for sixth, despite racing greenly in the straight. That was only his second start and he’ll be hard to beat in similar grade next time over more ground.