KEMPSEY gelding Mister McIlroy ($19) made up for some bad luck in a few runs with a solid, close finish to the $32,000 Hopkins Livermore Cup at Manning Valley Race Club's meeting at Taree on Friday and will now be set for its hometown cup.
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The seven-year-old trained by Rocky and Daniel Simonetta just got through the ruck in time to score by just under a length from the fast-finishing Mister Smartee ($18), trained at Port Macquarie by Tas Morton, with a nose to the unlucky Kempsey gelding O'Driscoll ($11), trained by Jessica McCusker.
Rocky Simonetta said his charge was "pretty versatile" with his best distance being the 1400m of the cup.
He was happy to see it return to the winner's stall, remembering how it won three races in a row earlier in its career.
"It should have won the MacLean Cup at Grafton.
"The horse has earned a short spell and then will be set for the Kempsey Cup (as will Prima Stella which won the Wauchope Cup at Port in June) over 1450m in November."
He wasn't trackside as he was in Yamba but he was elated with the win.
"I think the whole bar backed him such was the roar," Rocky added.
Mister Smartee was coming fast in the middle of the track whereas O'Driscoll didn't get completely clear on the fence until the last 80m.
Disappointment was Wyong's $2.25 favourite Holy Reign, trained by Kim Waugh, which was last on the turn and grabbed fourth on the good-rated track.
The riding honours went to new apprentice jockey,18-year-old Dylan Gibson, son of champion NSW jockey Andrew Gibbons, with a winning double on In A Step ($2.40) and Star Raider ($2.20).
It was his first double, clearly taking advantage of his inherited ability and four kilo claim.
In A Step, trained by Brett Dodson at Coffs Harbour, just lasted by a half-head from Newcastle's No Dreams All Hope ($21) in the Horsepower Benchmark 58 Handicap over 1000m after leading.
Gibbons had just over a length to spare on Star Raider, trained at Newcastle by Kris Lees, after being third early in the Taree Kia Class 1 Handicap over 1000m.
Punters had a scare but got off to a winning start when $1.50 favourite Total Recall, ridden by Christian Reith and trained at Scone by Paul Messara, scored by a nose from Grand Acheeva ($26), trained at Port by Neil Godbolt and ridden by Robert Thompson, in the XXXX Gold Class 1 & Maiden Plate over 1600m.
Reith was also on Newcastle trainer Jason Deamer's Discombe ($3.70} which scored by a quarter of a length in the Stacks Law Firm Class 2 Handicap over 1400m after leading throughout.
RELATED:
A protest by connections of Port's Condover Hall ($2.40), ridden by Jay Ford for Godbolt in the TAB Benchmark 58 Handicap over 2000m for alleged interference was dismissed by stewards, the race going to Reposition ($7.50), ridden by apprentice Reece Jones for trainer Greg Preston.
Taree trainer Ross Dawson and jockey Raymond Spokes combined for a half-head win by Atlantic Lite ($6.50) in the De Bortoli Wines F&M Maiden 1250m.
First-starter, Sharpay Ruler ($3.40), trained at Newcastle by Nathan Doyle and ridden by Shane Arnold led all the way for a half-head win from Godbolt's Sensei Jackie ($51) in the Saxbys Soft Drinks Maiden 1250m.
