MIDGE created an early upset when the Walcha filly won the first race of the Curlewis Cup meeting at Gunnedah Jockey Club’s Riverside course on Friday.
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Prepared by George Woodward, the three-year-old daughter of Therock bounced straight to the front from her inside alley and was never headed, beating second favourite Invincible Bot by a length with race favourite L’Appel Du Vide another two and a quarter lengths away third.
Midge was having her fifth race start and coming off an unlucky second at Tamworth, said stable foreman John Byrne.
“It was a good run at Tamworth, she came home strong on a heavy track,” he said.
However the win was still a “surprise” he said.
“We didn’t expect to lead but she showed a fair bit of speed today,” Byrne said.
Second-placed Invincible Bot lost his winning chance at the turn, said trainer Scott Thompson.
He had been outside the leader but lost a length turning for home and scrambled to make it up.
He was having his first race start after trialling well for his Quirindi stable.
Invinicble Bot is named after legendary Quirindi trainer Bill “Bot” Thompson, father of Scott Thompson. He was at Quirindi to see his namesake make his debut and honoured to have a horse named in his honour by owner Hugh Tighe.