Wangaratta’s Ben Brisbourne led the way with a double as central Victorian trainers plundered half the races on last Saturday’s Manangatang Cup card.
Brisbourne kicked off in race three, a benchmark 52 over 1175 metres, with Ponte Arcobaleno ($5.50), who came from worse than midfield under regular stable Lachlan King to score despite his 60kg steadier. 
Two races later Brisbourne and King won again with $4.20 favourite Sir Loyne in a benchmark 56 over the same trip. 
In the next, a 1550m-metre benchmark 52, Echuca trainer Gwenda Johnstone was triumphant with Mutsuhito ($7.50), who came from midfield under Nathan Punch to grab Swan Hill-trained favourite Bower Boy. 
Earlier, in the 1550-metre maiden that opened the card, Wangaratta’s Craig Weeding won with $11 chance Misil Beauty, who came from midfield in the hands of Hannah Edgley to grab favourite Meet The Prince in shadows of the post.
King took the day’s riding honours, completing a treble when he steered $2.40 favourite Sandastan to victory in the last, a 2000-metre benchmark 52, for Murray Bridge trainer Garret Lynch.
Promising pair raid and reign
There was more success for district trainers over the border at Albury last Saturday, kicking off with debutant Crying Cricket for Benalla’s Olivia Osborne in the 900-metre maiden.
The four-year-old son of Boulder City started a $12 chance on the back of a win and a narrow second in trials at Seymour and Tatura.
Cory Parish rode Crying Cricket in those trials, and led all the way on him last Saturday for a comfortable win. Andrew Dale of Wangaratta took second placing with $2.90 favourite Snitzel Tycoon while Craig Widdison of Wodonga saddled up third-placed No Ordinary Show.
Dale went one better in race seven, a benchmark 58 over the same short trip, with $1.55 favourite The Shyster, a three-year-old gelding by second-season sire Profiteer.
Coming off a debut win at Tatura, The Shyster led throughout  in the hands of Blaike McDougall, with Widdison’s Majestic Reward second, almost four lengths away.