Riding before a large hometown crowd, Michael Hackett kicked home a winning double and almost made it a treble when Dr Vandi failed by centimetres to overhaul More Than Art in the Station Motel Benchmark 50 Handicap (1200 metres) at Parkes on Saturday.
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The Brett Thompson, Gulgong trained More Than Art (Yuya Saiki, $8) led for home and held on to win by a short half head from Dr Vandi ($6) with Shamelessly (Jake Pracey-Holmes, $13) two lengths away third.
Michael Hackett has been travelling from Parkes to Dubbo to ride trackwork for Clint Lundholm and he was rewarded with the ride on the Lundholm trained Bee Double Bee in the Telescope Tyres & Batteries Class 1 Handicap, 1000 metres.
Running home strongly from fifth on the hometurn, Bee Double Bee ($4 to $3 favourite) beat the George Wright, locally trained Jonairley (Jake Pracey-Holmes, $8) by a neck with Poet's Spirit (Tony Cavallo, $6) in third place.
Trained at Nyngan by Rodney Robb, debut maker Roses For Margo ($8) with Michael Hackett in the saddle led most of the way to win the opening event, the McDonalds Parkes Maiden Plate (800 metres), from Cyclone Chaser (Chris Williams, $17) and Final Letter (Jeff Kehoe, $41).
Feature race, the SCU Banking Coradgery Cup - Benchmark 50 Handicap (1400 metres) attracted a 14 horse field and the Andrew Bourke, Boorowa trained Kijitsu ($5) ridden by Bathurst based apprentice Jamie Gibbons took the early lead and held on well to score from Kooroora Miss (Nyssa Burrells, $4 equal favourite) and War Groom (Michael Hackett, $4 equal favourite).
Favourite backers went home happy when Talk Of The Town (Chris Williams, $2.70) from the Darren Hyde stable at Dubbo,sprinted through a gap at the top of the straight for a convincing win over Nino (Ken Dunbar, $6) and My Dinky Bride (Mathew Cahill, $2.80) in the 1200 metres Parkes Services Club Maiden Handicap.
Racing at Dubbo on Friday, Walgett Cup on Saturday.