Murwillumbah trainer Matthew Dunn created a piece of racing history at Rosehill last Saturday when he recorded his 50th win in the TAB Highway series, taking a 1400-metre Class 3 with the four-year-old Wayburn.
Apprentice Mollie Fitzgerald settled her mount back in the field before starting a forward move approaching the turn. 
Once in the straight, Wayburn ($4) finished strongly to win by two lengths from Xtreme. 
Unfortunately, Dunn was unable to attend the meeting. 
“Matt would really love to be here but he had surgery on his knee so the poor bugger is at home watching from there,” said stable rep Holly Julius. 
“It’s upsetting for him not being here. It’s a big milestone and we’re very happy.”
Julius said Wayburn, who’d run sixth in a Randwick Highway a week earlier, had “handled the week back-up really well”. 
“He tucked into his feed straight after his last start, so we knew we weren’t going to have any trouble with it. 
“The rise in trip (from 1200m) was definitely no problem. Last start he got shuffled back but we really believe he probably could have won that race. We’re really happy with him.”
Doyle doubles up
Newcastle trainer Nathan Doyle dominated the following race, a 1200-metre benchmark 72 Midway, saddling three of the 12 runners for first, second and seventh.
Oddly it was his $3.50 favourite, Heroic Deed, who missed a place behind stablemates Formal ($7.50) and Better Layte ($4). James McDonald rode the winner.
Three races later Doyle was back in the winner’s circle after Silvanito took out the 1500-metre benchmark 78 under Alysha Collett. 
In a thrilling finish, with less than three-quarters of a length covering the first five home, Silvanito ($11) just edged out Puntin, who’d attempted to lead all the way, with favourite Transcend third. 
“Alysha gets the best out of him. A great ride,” Doyle said. “She got him into a beautiful spot.
“At the 400 metres I was saying to myself, ‘You’re going for a spell because you dropped the bridle quite quickly out there,’ but Alysha never gave up hope and he kept coming. 
In winning, Silvanito passed $500,000 in earnings — a great return on his $75,000 purchase price.
Brad hails Hallie
Another provincial trainer to have a big day at Rosehill was Hawkesbury-based Brad Widdup, who claimed the 1200-metre Group 2 Sheraco Stakes for fillies and mares with $20 shot Savvy Hallie. 
“It was good to see her bounce back,” Widdup said. 
“First up the other day, she did get slammed out of the gates and went back to the inside, which was a no-go zone. 
“There were other things. 
“Apparently she was lame but she’s not lame today.”
Nash Rawiller was the winning rider.
Dean sweeps features
Sunday’s Bathurst Cup day was a triumph for the local stable of Dean Mirfin.
First, Mirfin’s four-year-old Michelangelo ($3.90) came from the back half of the field to take the 1800-metre Bathurst Cup under apprentice Jacob Stiff.
Mirfin then produced the quinella in the $110,000 Panorama (1300m), with $2.60 favourite Ishikari narrowly beating stablemate Tom Vegas ($3.40). Alysha Collett was the winning rider.
Earlier, the $50,000 Super Maiden (1200m) went to the Annabel and Rob Archibald-trained Prince Of Verona ($9.50), ridden by Heavelon Van Der Hoven.
Cups galore
Newcastle’s spring carnival kicks off this Friday with a Group 3 treble — the Newcastle Cup (2300m), the Cameron Handicap (1500m) and the Tibbie Stakes (1400m) for fillies and mares.
Meanwhile at Canberra, the feature will be the $50,000 Black Mountain Quality (1000m). 
Saturday completes the Newcastle carnival, while there are four cup meetings across the state, with the Barraba Cup (1400m), Enngonia Cup (1400m), Bowraville Cup (1370m) and Pooncarie Cup (1550m) down for decision.
Barraba is in the New England region of northern NSW, Enngonia is in the north west, Bowraville is in the Mid North Coast hinterland and Pooncarie in the south west.