A ground-saving ride by up-and-coming apprentice Braith Nock was the key to victory for the Scott Singleton-trained Lyon in last Saturday’s 1300-metre Class 3 TAB Highway Handicap at Rosehiil. 
After settling his mount towards the rear of the 16-horse field, Nock was able to find gaps along the inside, saving valuable ground in the process. 
Approaching the 200-metre mark, Nock switched the gelding into clear galloping room. Once in open space, Lyon ($8) finished strongly to win by a short neck from Xtreme with Athena’s Treasure a long head away in third place. 
The winner, a four-year-old who began his career with five trials in the Gai Waterhouse/Adrian Bott stable, has now recorded three wins and two seconds from his nine starts with Scone-based Singleton. 
“He obviously wasn’t showing too much down at Gai’s,” Singleton said. “I think they thought he wasn’t much good — needed gelding and he’s got a wind issue. 
“We gave him a bit of time and gelded him. With the wind issue, we keep him really fresh and ride him cold. He’s just got better and better.”
Nock was happy and relieved after the race.
“It was a lovely win,” he said. “He’s a horse you have to try to keep flowing in his races. 
“The speed went on when I needed it to and I was able to improve, which was good because when I needed to get out he was able to quicken up and get away from them. 
“If he hadn’t, I’d probably have been in trouble for putting a few on the ground.”
Bizz gets the nod
Two races later, after a thrilling finish to the 1400-metre benchmark 78 for fillies and mares, Hawkesbury-trained Mind Ya Bizz was awarded the race on protest against Transcend, who’d hit the line a half-head in front. 
In explaining the decision, chief steward Tom Moxon said: “Having regard to the significance of the contact and how Mind Your Bizz does react and the ultimate margin, stewards can be comfortably satisfied had that interference not occurred Mind Ya Bizz would have finished in advance of Transcend.”
Mind Ya Bizz is trained by Brad Widdup and was ridden by Zac Lloyd.
Two to follow
Brad Widdup completed a profitable weekend with a winning double at Wyong on Sunday, sharing the honours with the stable of Annabel and Rob Archibald. Both Widdup’s winners were ridden by Zac Lloyd and both were impressive. 
In the opening race, a 1600-metre Class 1, four-year-old mare Savoonga ($2.45 favourite) won by 3¼ lengths from Smichov. It was the mare’s second win from seven starts and she looks sure to have more wins in store. 
Then, in the 1350-metre maiden handicap, Anthropoid ($1.30 favourite) careered away to a 5¼-length win over Classic Two. 
Although this was just a maiden, the dominance of the win and the heavy backing suggest this three-year-old also has more wins in store.
There was also an impressive winner at Moruya the same day. On a track rated a soft 5, the Kerry Parker-trained mare Mrs Flanders started an odds-on favourite and careered away to a six-length win over Edna Mae. The mare was ridden by Brock Ryan. 
Promising apprentice Glenn Cahill fared best of the riders at Moruya with a winning double.
Get to the ’Bah
This Friday sees the Tweed River Jockey Club will conduct its Showcase meeting at Murwillumbah, highlighted by the $85,000 Murwillumbah Cup, a Big Dance eligibility race over 1550 metres. The main supporting races will be the $40,000 B.F. Chairman Sprint (1200 metres) and the $50,000 Super Maiden (1200 metres).
On Saturday, the Cobar Miners’ Race Club will stage its annual race meeting in the outback town 712km northwest of Sydney, highlighted by the 1700-metre Cobar Picnic Cup.
 Sunday is a dual cup day in country NSW. The main meeting is Goulburn Cup day, with the feature over 1400 metres and carrying Big Dance eligibility. The Narromine Turf Club will also be conducting its major meeting of the season, featuring the 1600-metre Narromine Cup.