The Andrew Dale trained Namarari bolted home to win the 2021 Coprice Leeton Cup on Saturday.

The four-year-old gelding was ridden by Billy Owen carrying 59.9kg and led the field from the turn to run the 1600m in 1.36.20.

Paying $6, Namarari won by two and a half lengths, finishing the last 600m in 36.44, and beating Willy White Socks, trained by George Dimitropolous at Wagga, with the Kerry Weir trained Billo Road a head away in third.

Stabled at Wangaratta, Namarari had last won at Berrigan on March 13.

Trainer Andrew Dale said the Cup win would buoy owner Peter Knight whose family was experiencing illness.

“It was a great ride by Billy – we decided to roll the dice, push forward, keep rolling and rolling, move off the bridle and give him some room,” Dale said.

The non-TAB meeting drew a solid crowd to enjoy the picnic atmosphere on the lawns while horses and jockeys appreciated the track rated as a Good 3.

Wonderful Phrase, trained by Donna Scott at Albury and ridden by apprentice Hannah Williams, won the PSP Haulage/Breed and Hutchinson 1050m maiden handicap by a long neck to the Wayne Carroll trained Defiant Award, with Duck Egg one-and-three-quarter lengths away in third.

The Lanhans Jewellers/Warbah Weighing class 2 handicap over 1050m made for some exciting racing with apprentice Molly Rourke, having her first ride, challenged the leaders in the last 200m.

Quideem, trained by John Marzol of Moruya and ridden by Michael Travers, won by a nose over Dissedge ridden by Hannah Williams. 

Rourke riding Mouse Almighty was a half neck away in third with the last 600m finished in 33.66.

Nick Heywood booted home Rock ‘n’ Tori for Wagga trainer Wayne Carroll in a time of 1.08.62 to win the 1150m Hotondo Homes/Murrumbidgee Investment Services maiden plate.

Three-quarters of a length away in second was Queen Brahmos, ridden by Michael Heagney and trained by Melissa Harrison of Kembla Grange, and it was half a length to third, Hi Poppy trained by Phil Sweeney, Jerilderie.

Apprentice Heni Ede piloted home four-year-old gelding Pushkar to win the 1150m Yenda Producers Benchmark 50 handicap in a time of 1.07.88.

The Phil Sweeney trained Zofferella, ridden by Teighan Worsnop, was second by one-and-a-quarter lengths, with Hail the Hero in third for trainer Melissa Harrison.

In the final race on the card, the 1600m Milbrae Business Group Class 1 and maiden plate, Zenyasa ridden by Richard Bensley was too good, winning by a short head to Lucky to his Mates, trained by Shilleagh Meyervale, Berrigan. Brooke Sweeney rode Diss ‘n Dat into third place.