Sport
18 September, 2026
Clement's Great Armada hat-trick
The Great Armada added the Collarenebri Cup to two Cobar Cup crowns for Jane Clement.
Winner of the Cobar Miners Cup and the Cobar Picnic Cup double this year, the Jane Clement, Mendooran trained six-year-old gelding The Great Armada on Saturday won the 1400 metres B and W Rural Collarenebri Cup.
Given the run of the race in third position by apprentice Gabrielle Johnston, The Great Armada ($3) won by a half-length from the unlucky Shaggy Rogers (Juliet Partridge, $3) which travelled very wide while The Bentley (Hollie Hull, $2.60 favourite) came from last to fill third place.
Jane Clement completed a Collarenebri double when last start Mendooran winner Johnny Boz (Hollie Hull, $3) raced outside the leader before beating stablemate Sidenay (Gabrielle Johnston, $3.50) and Headstream (Zoe Hunt, $3) in the 1600 metres Woodhams Petroleum Benchmark 50 Handicap.
The second leg of a double for Gabrielle Johnston was the Garry Lunn , Dubbo-trained Ms Reeves ($2.40) which gained a split between the leaders to win the 1200 metres Tattersalls Hotel Collarenebri-Benchmark 45 Handicap from Loud (Hollie Hull, $1.80 favourite) and Shifa (Liam Blanch, $6).
Shane Saunders trains two horses at Warwick in Queensland and has won at Collarenebri in 2024 with The Answer Man and in 2026 with Funky Zebra.
Queensland-based apprentice Samantha Pointon who won the Birdsville Cup this year on the Lachie Manzelmann, Mackay trained Raetihi, was aboard Funky Zebra ($5) which won the 1000 metres Benchmark 50 Handicap at Collarenebri from Maxandus (Jordie Thompson, $3) and the leader Adviser (Gabrielle Johnston, $3.40).
Racing third early, the Sue Bigg, Gunnedah trained Injair (Liam Blanch, $2 favourite) took control in the straight for a runaway win by over three lengths from Yahuskin (Juliet Partridge, $4) and the leader Classified Mission (Gabrielle Johnston, $6) in the 1200 metres Collarenebri Sports Club-Jack Meaney Memorial - Class One and Maiden Plate.
Raced at Geurie; Saturday, September 12.
Avoid Me wins Cup at picturesque Geurie setting
By Colin Hodges
At the picturesque Geurie racecourse and in front of a very good crowd, Avoid Me became one of four winners at the meeting for Dubbo trainer Connie Greig when taking out the 1600 metres Mitchell Inn-Friends And Family Of Bernie Wilkin-Geurie Picnic Cup.
Part of a winning treble for Brazilian born jockey Leandro Ribeiro, Avoid Me ($4.40) took the lead from Ocean Hero turning for home then broke clear to win by over three lengths from Akauwheo (Zara Lewis, $5.50) and Casterly Rock (Tamsin Gough, $4.60).
Connie Greig and Leandro Ribeiro opened the batting with Rita Red ($4.80) which led from before the home turn to beat Mega Pixel (Skye Regan, $1.80 favourite) and Ready For Lift Off (Ricky Blewitt, $3.20) in the 1000 metres All Aspects Concrete Class Three Trophy Handicap.
Noble One (Leandro Ribeiro, $2.40) which had been racing on the provincial circuit was first up for the Connie Greig stable when leading all the way to win the 1400 metres Elders Dubbo-Open Conditional Handicap from stablemate Midnight In Midori (Amber Collins, $1.60 favourite) and Lockadente (Zara Lewis, $10).
Connie Greig supplied both runners for the 1600 metres Shanahans Transport/Carter Lindsay McHugh Class B Handicap with Hot Miss (Amber Collins, $1.60) edging ahead over the closing stages to beat Fierce Impulse ( Leandro Ribeiro, $1.50 favourite) by a long neck.
While preparing Gallant Star for the $2,000,000 Kosciusko at Royal Randwick on October 17th, Dubbo trainer Brett Robb took time out to travel to Geurie on Saturday to win the 1000 metres Fardells Heavy Haulage and Crane Hire Maiden Plate with Cool Nanczye.
Leading throughout, the grey mare Cool Nanczye (Ricky Blewitt, $2.20) won by over four lengths from Pala D’Oro (Leandro Ribeiro, $1.70 favourite) and Voskamp (Tamsin Gough, $10).
A last start winner at Gulargambone, the Kylie Kennedy, Narromine trained Calmundi (Tamsin Gough, $4) swept down the outside from back in the field to beat Daisy Duck (Leandro Ribeiro, $3.60) and Box Of Crackers (Amber Collins, $2.20 favourite) in the 1000 metres Trax Livestock/Think Water Outwest Class Three Trophy Handicap.