We were back on dry ground at Donald last Saturday, making for competitive racing on an excellent surface, and district stables got off to a strong start.
 Horsham’s Paul Preusker extended his outstanding run of form by taking out the opener with Philharmonic ($5), while Stawell trainer Andrew Bobbin landed the first of his two winners for the week when Boulderoo ($10) came from last on the bend to score in race three. 
Bobbin’s four-year-old was seven weeks between runs and back in trip to 1200 metres on Saturday, the freshen-up doing wonders for the gelded son of Boulder City, who finished strongly under Linda Meech to break through at start number 10. 
Philharmonic was second up and out to 1600 metres following a “forget” run at Casterton resuming, jockey Cian MacRedmond guiding the wayward four-year-old to an impressive victory. 
The gelded son of Royal Symphony dipped at the start and was stopped in his tracks turning for home at Casterton, but improved sharply last weekend to overcome a wide draw and break his maiden at the fourth attempt. 
MacRedmond enjoyed a trail in the three-wide line for most of the event before peeling widest in the home straight, his mount racing greenly but still too good in the closing stages. 
Follow that Girl
Andrew Bobbin continued on his winning way at Hamilton on Monday when talented mare Cute Girl ($5.50) bolted in over 1600 metres in benchmark 56 company. 
The lightly raced five-year-old was given a lovely trail just off a hot speed by jockey Jack Hill before taking over in the home straight, the result never in doubt and the judge discerning a three-length margin on the line. 
Hill earned a holiday after temporarily forgetting his obligations to other riders in an incident at Donald, but recorded three wins at Hamiton on his way out, none easier than that on Bobbin’s progressive galloper. 
Cute Girl has two wins from six starts, has been out of the placings just once, and can be followed next start — at Murtoa in a fortnight, in the first heat of the Melbourne Cup Carnival Country Mile Series.