Warrnambool trainer Joanne Mugavin scored the biggest win of her career when Bright Legend took the $200,000 listed Torney Night Cup (2500m) at Pakenham on Friday night.
With Jye McNeil aboard, Bright Legend ($15) beat Flamin’ Romans by three-quarters of a length, with odds-on favourite Steel Run a further 1¼ lengths away in third. 
Mugavin, who has 20 horses in work including pre-trainers, said she was thrilled by the Churchill mare’s victory.
“I thought she did a great job and it was a very good ride by Jye. 
“She’s been running consistently, with a win at Mount Gambier and seconds at Naracoorte and Sandown at her last few runs, so I went to Pakenham quietly confident.”
Bright Legend proved a bargain buy for Mugavin. She parted with $2500 to buy the mare in an Inglis digital sale in June last year. The five-year-old has now won more than $163,000 in the trainer’s care. 
It was a big couple of nights for the Mugavin team, with stablemate Bare To Witness running third in 0-66 company on the Friday and Topspin ($26) winning a benchmark 62 over the same course as the Torney Cup the night before.
Bright Legend made it four wins from Mugavin’s last 12 starters.
Press pleases
Young Grassmere trainer Adam Chambers may tackle the Wangoom Handicap at Warrnambool’s May carnival with new recruit Press Down after the six-year-old ran third down the Flemington straight on Saturday. 
 Chambers was upbeat about Press Down’s debut for his stable in the 1100-metre benchmark 84.
“We’ve got a few options but the first one I’m thinking about is the Wangoom,” he said. 
“Press Down carried a lot of weight on Saturday (62kg after a 2kg claim for Ryan Houston). He’ll drop a lot of weight in the Wangoom and he’ll really appreciate that. 
“We might go to the Golden Topaz at the Swan Hill carnival after that. 
“I’m really grateful that the owners have given me the horse to train. I’m confident he’ll improve with that first-up run under his belt.” 
Press Down, previously trained by Peter Hardacre in SA, has won more than $440,000 in stakemoney.
Khor blimey
Trainer Symon Wilde and jockey Linda Meech teamed up to win their second straight Edenhope Cup last Saturday.
The combination won with $2.50 favourite Khor in the $60,000 contest, having taken the 2025 Edenhope Cup with Precious Charm.
Duke will be back
Reigning Warrnambool Grand Annual Steeplechase winner Duke Of Bedford is on track to defend his title, according to Stawell trainer Andrew Bobbin.
Duke Of Bedford resumed with a second placing on the flat in a benchmark 56 race on Friday February 27.
Bobbin said he was happy with the first-up effort.
“It was a good run,” he said. “We’re on track for another tilt at the Grand Annual. 
“I think we’ll go down the Brierly-Grand Annual path again. We’ll give him a steeple trial at Hamilton before looking at another flat run and then a steeple trial at Warrnambool. 
“We’ll nearly be cherry ripe for the two races at the carnival after those.”
Arron Lynch, who rode Duke Of Bedford to victory in the 2025 Grand Annual, will have first right of refusal for the seven-year-old’s coming campaign.
“Arron has a great understanding of him,” Bobbin said. 
“He’s come back a more seasoned horse this year. He’s really developed and he just seems to love the jumping course at Warrnambool.”
From his 31 starts Duke Of Bedford has eight wins and $449,720.