Mini Winnie breaks maiden status with rails run home

Greg Carige’s three-year-old Mini Winnie recorded her first career victory at the Bunbury Turf Club on Thursday after edging out Ice Trade by 0.1 lengths in the Furphy — Refreshing Ale Maiden (1208m).

The Bunbury-based gelding, who led the pre-race fancies, started slowly and was at the tail as the field made its way down the back straight.

Pearl Dancer, ridden by Craig Staples, controlled the overall tempo of the race for lengthy periods and appeared to be well on topbut Mini Winnie’s rider Jade McNaught had other ideas.

Despite plenty of congestion and luck going against the three-year-old, McNaught managed to find an inside lane with 150m to travel.

With space aplenty, Mini Winnie managed to stride up to Pearl Dancer and Michael Lane’s runner Ice Trade, who made a late tilt at the lead.

It was a Bunbury trifecta in the Amelia Park Wines Handicap (1208m), with Lane’s four-year-old Stormy Ruler cruising to victory by two lengths over Carige’s gelding Horizon.

Despite drawing the rails, rider Chris Parnham looked comfortable in the saddle, with Stormy Ruler snapping an unwanted run of two unplaced starts.

Stormy Ruler’s stablemate You Am I finished third, in a solid outing for the Lane stable.

Revered hoop William Pike had all of the answers in the Happy 75th Birthday Jim Enright Handicap (2219m) after guiding mare Sentimental Gift two lengths clear of five-year-old Throwdown.

Pike, who always manages to succeed when he visits the South West, also rode home a winner in the Aquaviva Catering Handicap (1690m) aboard Sublime Image who ran home strongly.

Earlier in the day, Lindsey Smith’s impressive filly Deputano broke through for her first career win after winning by a length from Under the Archers in the Tabtouch - Better Your Bet Maiden (2019m).