Sydney jockeys Chad Lever (3) James Innes Jnr (2) and Bobby El-Issa (1) rode six of the eight winners at Cessnock on Monday. Cessnock legend Robert Thompson and Newcastle apprentice Louise Day both rode a winner while Paul Perry took the training honours with a double.
RACE 1- COCA-COLA CLASS 1 900M
The Brett Partelle trained Rouge Runner landed a decent plunge ($4.40 to $3.10) in his third run from a spell. Bobby El-Issa picked up the mount from Aaron Bullock who was indisposed, and he gave then winner the perfect trail behind the leaders. Rouge Runner railed up inside the leaders in the straight and he won by a length from Lilith ($2.60f) and Olifants ($3.90)
RACE 2- XXXX GOLD CLASS 1 & MAIDEN PLATE 2125M
The training partnership of Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott saddled up their first ever Cessnock starter and he was a winner. Transact, a three-year-old son of former Kiwi super stayer Dundeel had never finished closer than seventh in three provincial starts. However, a huge drop in class and a longer trip saw Transact lead all the way under James Innes Jnr. The winner was a $5.50 chance and he won by 2 ¾ lengths.
RACE 3- HUNGERFORD HILL WINES MAIDEN 1350M
The Hawkes family training partnership and Robert Thompson have a great strike rate when they combine, and they were at it again on Monday. Priestess, well beaten in her only two starts at Hawkesbury appreciated the class drop and a gun ride by Thompson. A well backed $4.40 chance the filly prevailed by a head.
RACE 4- SHARP ELECTRONICS GROUP MAIDEN PLATE 1570M
Flying Bliss had only placed once in seven starts before her narrow win on Monday. Innes sent the filly forward from an outside barrier and she was never headed defying all challenges to win by half a length. At $8.50 the winner was third favourite behind odds on favourite Holy Reign which had no luck.
RACE 5- COASTLINE POOLS BENCHMARK 58 1570M
Another all the way winner with the Jason Deamer trained Serious Dancer solid in the market at $6.50 saluting. Lever rated the mare to perfection up front and she held on to win by a long neck.
RACE 6- CESSNOCK BOWLING CLUB MAIDEN 1150M
The Perry trained Onyar backed from $9 to $3.60 was ridden hard out of the barrier to hold the lead. Lever gave Onyyar a kick on the turn and he shot clear bore hanging on for a half a head win.
RACE 7- CESSNOCK LEAGUES CLUB BENCHMARK 58 1150M
Gone Viral overcame a wide draw to lead throughout at the juicy odds of $31. Apprentice Louise Day held the rail as her mount was taken on and he kicked on the turn. Trainer Tanya Randell has only three horses in work and there were hysterical scenes as the winner returned to scale.
RACE 8- YARRAMAN PARK BENCHMARK 58 1150M
Jackknife, an eye catching third first up at Taree came from well back to win by half a length. Lever drove the winner between runners in the straight to win running away.
The next meeting at Cessnock is Jungle Juice Cup day on October 12.