Goulburn’s Danny Williams kicked off a big day for country stables at Rosehill last Saturday with the win of Sneaky Pee Cee in the Class 2 TAB Highway Handicap, a result that didn’t surprise Williams in the slightest. 
The three-year-old won by a short neck from Andrea, with favourite Kakoda a further five lengths away in third place after a tough run. 
For Sneaky Pee Cee ($7.50) it was a third win from 10 starts. 
“I was full of confidence coming out of his last run and I was surprised at his price today to be honest,” Williams said. 
“I really expected when the market came up that he’d be the favourite based on his last run. I thought coming back from a benchmark 78 run to a Class 2, he looked a good thing.”
Jockey Chad Schofield said the heavy 9 surface at Rosehill worked in Sneaky Pee Cee’s favour.
“He’s not the easiest horse to ride but it worked out well,” he said. 
“He was effective in the ground but he wouldn’t have wanted a metre further (than 1100m). That’s his limit. 
“There’s still some improvement to come. He’s a very nervous horse, still running on fear. When he learns to harness that, it’s only going to help.”
Williams may bring Sneaky Pee Cee back to 1000 metres for a Class 3 Highway at Randwick on August 8. That would be the 10th and probably final run of the horse’s second racing campaign.
Big win for ‘big ego’
Second of the country winners at Rosehill was another rising four-year-old, Arapawa, in the 1500-metre benchmark 72 for Scone’s Brett and Georgie Cavanough.
Three-kilo claiming apprentice Mollie Fitzgerald predicted a bright future for Arapawa after he scored by a length from the favourite, Cheval De Bois, with a three-length gap to third.
“He’s still got a lot to come, which is really exciting for his ownership group because he’s done a good job today,” Fitzgerald said. 
“Probably his best attribute is sustaining a nice gallop because he’s tough, so the race actually set up perfectly for him. 
“We were able to just control the race behind Nash (Rawiller, who rode Ballpark) and after that he found the line really well. 
Georgie Cavanough said the Astern gelding was coming into his own with three wins from his past four starts, to make it five from 14 overall.
“He’s got a big attitude, a big ego and a big heart,” she said. 
“We’ve been pretty patient with him, spacing his runs, but he takes everything in his stride. 
“He’s always shown at home that he can reel off some slick sectionals when needed and he did that today.”
Sword too sharp
Third of the country stables to come away from Rosehill with a win was that of Murwillumbah-based Matthew Dunn, who claimed the 1200-metre benchmark 78 for fillies and mares with $2.25 favourite Sword Of Legacy. 
“She’s got the heart and mindset of a caged lion,” said rider Nash Rawiller. “We got into a bit of a boxing match there at the 100 metres but she came out on top.”
Dunn announced after the win that the filly would now go for a spell. 
“She’s got the potential to be a really good mare,” he said. “She’s stakes grade for sure. 
“We’ve had a great season,” Dunn added. “That’s about 130 winners for the season and we’re fifth or sixth in the Australian premiership so to do that from a country base is a credit to my team.”
Around the traps
Gosford trainer Kylie Gavenlock looks to have a couple of bright prospects on her hands after a double with young horses at her home track last Saturday.
Three-year-old Supido filly Frida Kay ($31) won the $60,000 Super Maiden over 1200 metres at her second start this campaign and her fifth overall, ridden by apprentice Olivia Chambers. 
Earlier, two-year-old Victor Ludorum gelding Zenmode ($5.50) won a 1600-metre maiden plate for two-year-olds and three-year-olds with Jess Taylor aboard. 
Wyong’s Nacim Dilmi also led in a winning double to share training honours with Gavenlock. Dilmi’s winners were ridden by Lee Magorrian, who finished with a treble, while Taylor rode a double.
At lnverell the same afternoon, apprentice Izzy Neale fared best of the jockeys with a winning double. 
Elsewhere on Saturday, Dubbo trainer Connie Greig took the Carinda Cup (1400m) with $2.50 favourite Edge Of Reward, ridden by Jake Pracey-Holmes. 
Sunday saw the Grafton carnival conclude with $2.35 favourite Bodhi Boy winning the Maclean Cup (1400m) for Taree trainer Lyndall Olson.
The win brought up a riding treble for Nick Heywood while Mikayla Weir rode a double.
The carnival had reached its climax three days before with another warm favourite, King Pedro ($2.30), winning the $200,000 listed Grafton Cup (2350m) with Kerrin McEvoy aboard for Tom Charlton.
Coming attractions
This Saturday sees the Macquarie Picnic Racing Club hold its annual race meeting at Trangie, north west of Dubbo, with the Macquarie Picnic Cup to be run over 1400 metres.
At Muswellbrook on Sunday, the 1280-metre Bengalla Cup will be the feature. At the Sapphire Coast the same afternoon, a $50,000 Super Maiden over 1400 metres will be a highlight.