Gunnedah trainers have claimed winning form at race tracks across western NSW but it was an all-Tamworth affair at the 2025 Iris Rennie Memorial Manilla Cup in Gunnedah.
Tamworth trainer Wayne Brown claimed first and second place in the feature event, held annually at Gunnedah’s Riverside Racecourse.
Brown’s Ancient Egypt, ridden by Serg Lisnyy, won by five lengths to the trainer’s second starter in the race, Subuki, steered by Emily Farr.
Fellow Tamworthian Mark Mason trained the third-placed ‘Ma And Pa’ ridden by Leeshelle Small.
Meanwhile in other events across the region, Gunnedah trainer Gavin Groth secured two wins at the Come By Chance Picnic Races.
Groth’s Sunday Scaries and Accrue had victories at the western NSW event.
At Dubbo, Gunnedah trainer Sally Torrens ran a dead heat with Live to Rise in the 1100m Country Magic Showcase Plate (C2).
It was the four-year-old mare’s second win in three starts after also winning at the Class 1 handicap at Moree in July.
Gunnedah Jockey Club president Mark Wilkinson said the wins were fantastic results for the local trainers.
Closer to home, he also commended the quality surface prepared for the Manilla Cup meeting in Gunnedah.
“The track rode really well, jockeys were very complimentary,” he said.
The club president said many track improvements are underway and in planning at Riverside.
Next for Gunnedah Jockey Club is the Christmas Hams race meeting in December.
One of Gavin Groth’s two winners at the 2025 Come By Chance Picnic Races.
Photo: Come By Chance Picnic Races.
