A wide draw proved more of a blessing than a curse for jockey Reece Jones in last Saturday’s 1500-metre Class 3 TAB Highway Handicap at Rosehill.
Jones jumped from gate 11 of 13 on Hammoon Sensation ($12) for Scone trainer Rod Northam and the gelding raced three wide throughout but found plenty at the finish to win by three-quarters of a length from Condone, with Spread The Love a further half-length away in third place. 
“It was a bit messy,” Jones said. “I was actually thrilled to be drawn out wide today. I just skipped all that messiness, really. 
“He’s done a great job,” he added of Hammoon Sensation, who was first up last Saturday. 
“He was knocking on the door last preparation but came here today and gave me a lovely ride. 
“He is kind of a difficult horse to ride — does a bit wrong — but credit to Rod. 
“He’s done a great job with him and it’s always good to have a winner for Rod.”
Alabama slams ’em
Earlier, Hawkesbury trainer Jack Pilkington notched his third metro Midway win when Alabama State ($4) proved too strong in the 1400-metre benchmark 72 that opened the program.
“It was over pretty much after the start when he began so well and put himself into a forward spot,” said jockey Tommy Berry. 
“He wanted to hit cruise control late but when he felt them coming he gave me more again.”
Alabama State was Pilkington’s first runner as a trainer when he debuted at Rosehill on January 20, 2024, running fifth in a two-year-old handicap behind future stakes winners Fully Lit and King Of Rouseau.
Now a five-year-old, the Alabama Express gelding has had 27 starts for five wins including two Rosehill Midways, and $371,800 in earnings.
He ran fourth in the $500,000 Four Pillars Midway and in the Group 3 Spring Stakes at Newcastle in November 2024.
Cavalry claims cup
Queenslander Cavalry Man proved too good for the locals in last Friday’s $200,000 Port Macquarie Cup, coming from behind the pace under apprentice Jace McMurray to score for Eagle Farm trainer Lindsay Gough.
The six-year-old grey started a $4.40 second favourite coming off his win in the Toowoomba Cup 13 days earlier.
The $80,000 Port Macquarie Sprint (1200m) stayed south of the border, with Pride To Follow ($5) winning for the Scone stable of Brett and Georgie Cavanough under Madeline Owen. 
The win completed a double for the Cavanoughs, who’d taken the opening 1000-metre maiden with $1.26 favourite Cosmic Jinks, ridden by Ashley Morgan.
Cosmic Jinks, a three-year-old filly by Cosmic Force, romped away to win by four lengths and should pay to follow in coming weeks.
In the $50,000 Super Maiden (1200m),  promising first-starter Letterman ($8), trained by at Gosford by Greg Mcfarlane and ridden by Andrew Adkins, recorded a one-length win after settling outside the leader.
On day two of the Port carnival last Saturday, Luke Rolls took riding honours with a winning treble, while Ben Looker rode a double. 
The first of Rolls’s winners, Home Siren, a three-year-old filly trained locally by Cassandra Schmidt, was most impressive in winning the 1000-metre Class 1 by three lengths from Don’t, with a similar margin to third-placed Putinacall. 
Home Siren has now won two from three and last week’s performance suggests she is another to follow.
Dubbo horses dominate
Dubbo trainer Dar Lunn took the major prize at Coonamble last Sunday when Green Run ($12) swooped from near the rear to win the $75,000 Coonamble Cup (1600m), ridden by Jenny Duggan. 
In an exciting finish to the previous race, the 1400-metre Baradine Cup, News Bound ($31) got up by a short neck from Mariota, with Moon Zone third, Talakai fourth and Lang Park fifth, three-quarters of a length covering the first five across the line. 
The winner was ridden by Kody Nestor for Dubbo trainer Natalie Pearce.
Another Dubbo trainee took the day’s other feature, $2.80 favourite Poisen Point winning the 1200-metre Crystal Sprint for Brett Robb and apprentice Izzy Neale.
Coming attractions
This Friday sees the Manning Valley Race Club hold its’ Showcase meeting, highlighted by the $100,000 Taree Gold Cup (1600m), a Big Dance eligibilty race. 
The main supporting races are a $50,000 Super Maiden over 1400 metres, the Lightning Handicap (1000m) and the Krambach Cup (1300m).
Saturday is cup day at Bombala and Deniliquin, with the features over 1200 and 1400 metres respectively. 
Sunday’s meeting at Nowra features the 1200-metre Mollymook Cup.