Warrior For Peace went into last Saturday’s Class 3 TAB Highway Handicap (1800m) at Randwick a heavily backed favourite and duly won, but not before giving his supporters some anxious moments. 
A muddling pace resulted in the $2.90 favourite being near the rear of the field on the home turn. 
“Coming to the corner I could see a wall of horses,” jockey Jason Collett said.
“I thought I either wait or go. I was on the fence but not much appeared to be changing ahead of me so I decided to go and luckily there was enough space to do so. 
“I must have shifted seven or eight horses but once I got to the outside of them, he had them covered a fair way out.” 
Indeed he did, drawing away to win by a length and a quarter from Spenzalot with third-placed Silent Call a long head further away. 
After the race Brett Cavanough, who trains the winner in partnership with daughter Georgie at Scone, was quick to thank retired trainer Kerry Jordan for his contribution to the win. 
“I have to say a big thank you to Kerry Jordan. He’s my sounding board and he’s been helping me out with this horse. He said to get him out in trip, get Jason (Collett) back on him and he’ll sort him out … he was spot on.”
Coupe in cruise control
Hawkesbury trainer Stephen O’Halloran notched his first Randwick winner when Mal Coupe won last Saturday’s benchmark 72 Midway Handicap over 1000 metres.
Ridden by champion jockey James McDonald, the $3.40 favourite scored by a length from Let’s Go Again with a similar margin to third-placed Zoutastic. 
Mal Coupe improved his record to five wins and two placings from 11 starts. 
“It’s great to get my first win here,” O’Halloran said. 
“There was a question mark about the ground coming here today, (the track was rated good) but James gave him a terrific ride and put him in the right spot. The horse did the rest. 
“Hopefully he’ll come back for a benchmark 88 (February 28). Going up in the handicaps, we’ll look after him and point him in the right direction as best we can.”
McDonald was quick to praise O’Halloran’s contribution, saying: “He looked incredible in the birdcage. He’s a good, progressive horse that’s been so well placed. Hats off to his team. 
“He’ll get a bit further. He relaxes so well he’ll get 1200 metres for sure.”
Nash gets Brad the cash
Another Hawkesbury trainer to leave Randwick with a smile on his dial was Brad Widdup, after taking the $300,000 Group 2 Light Fingers Stakes (1200m) for three-year-old fillies with Savvy Hallie ($3.70). 
Jockey Nash Rawiller had no hesitation sending his mount straight to the front and there she stayed, winning by three-quarters of a length from odds-on favourite Apocalyptic, with Nepo Baby a close-up third. 
“I felt I had her asleep in my hands after we’d gone 100 metres,” Rawiller said. “From that point, I was pretty confident. I was feeling good a long way from home that she’d be hard to run down. 
“She’s a perfect racehorse in the way she goes about everything. She made all her own luck and Brad had her lovely and fit for today. I rode her with confidence.”
Widdup described Savvy Hallie’s run as “just perfect”. 
“She’ll go straight to the 1400-metre Group 1 now,” he said, referring to the Surround Stakes at Randwick on February 28. “She turned up today with no trial in a really tough fillies race. I’m rapt. 
“Nash gave her a good, positive ride. That’s why we put these guys on — because they’re the best. 
“I haven’t used Nash a lot, for no other reason than we can’t get him. So it was nice to get him today and get the job done like that.”
Around the traps
Forbes trainer Peter Kirby was the toast of Bedgerabong last Saturday after East Harlem ($3.40) took the 1400-metre Bedgerabong Picnic Cup under Bessie Dimery. 
The same day, Astunner ($4.20) took the Holbrook Cup for Wagga trainer Darrell Burnet and jockey Carly Frater.
Frater rode a double at the meeting while Wangaratta’s Andrew Dale trained a double.
At Sunday’s Coffs Harbour Showcase meeting, the $150,000 Northern Rivers Racing Association Country Championships heat (1400m) went to $2.45 favourite Considered, trained at Murwillumbah by Matthew Dunn and ridden by Andrew Mallyon.
It was a fifth straight win for the So You Think mare, who began her career with Tamworth-based Cody Morgan.
Earlier on the program, the $50,000 Super Maiden (1200m) saw a comfortable win to the Brett Dodson-trained local gelding Jade Trees, the $1.75 favourite.
Coming attractions
This Friday sees the Showcase action switch to the northwest slopes for the $50,000 Quirindi Cup (1600m), supported by the $40,000 Quirindi Lightning (1100m) and a $50,000 Super Maiden (1450m). 
Saturday sees the Country Championships series head to the central west of the state, with the Mudgee Race Club to host a $150,000 qualifier over 1400 metres and a $50,000 Super Maiden over the same trip. 
Sunday sees Port Macquarie host the Mid North Coast Racing Association’s heat of the series, a $150,000 event over 1200 metres. 
This meeting too features a $50,000 Super Maiden, over 1500 metres. 
The same day on the south coast, Nowra will stage a $50,000 Super Maiden Handicap over 1200 metres.