ALEX Prout gave up the chance of a trip to Sydney to watch Sunday night’s NRL Grand Final over the weekend to instead be the strapper for the Agfarm Mungery Picnic Cup’s Viva Lavino.
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Mr Prout revealed this bit of information during the presentation for the cup runner on Sunday afternoon.
The captain-coach of the Parkes Spacemen’s 2018 first grade rugby league team, Alex Prout is also a part owner of Viva Lavino which is trained by his mother-in-law Sharon Jeffries for a Parkes syndicate.
William Pearson, a former prominent jockey in the professional ranks, travelled from Batemans Bay to ride Viva Lavino in the 1750 metres Agfarm Mungery Picnic Cup, in front of the biggest crowd at Mungery for many years.
Hayne Plane (Paula Heath) established a five lengths mid race lead, with Viva Lavino in a handy position while the $2.50 equal favourites Rusty Motorbike and Zartini were at the back of the field.
Taking the lead in the straight Viva Lavino held on to beat Rusty Motorbike (Maddison Wright) and Zartini (Ricky Blewitt) in a close finish.
The Parkes Spacemen rugby league team was well represented at Mungery with the 2018 reserve grade captain-coach George Wright junior being the strapper for Spy’s Shadow.
Trained by George Wright senior for a Parkes syndicate, Spy’s Shadow (Ricky Blewitt, $2.40 favourite) led throughout to win the 1200 metres Simpson Williamson Memorial Maiden Handicap from Got The Tickets (Michael Gray, $2.50) and Bridegroom (Michael Wade, $5).
Sharon Jeffries and William Pearson had the first leg of a winning double when Henny’s Harmony ($2 equal favourite) took out the 800 metres Waverleigh Class B Handicap.
Grey gelding Mr Swift (Ricky Blewitt, $3 equal favourite) trained at Condobolin by Mark Ward for David Simmons (Trundle),Dr Lily Ward (Condobolin) and Wayne McDonnell from Orange came from last with a rails run to beat Blinkin Dusty (Michael Wade, $6) and Will She Appeal (Ridge Wilson, $6.50) in the Don Darling Memorial Handicap, 1000, metres.
Owned by Dennis Todd from Baradine and trained at Nyngan by Rodney Robb, Archway Express (Maddison Wright, $4.40) won the 1200 metres Narromine Hotel Class B Handicap after being unplaced over 1600 metres the day before at Come-By-Chance.
The other winner at Mungery, the Luke Pepper, Canberra trained Louisiana Belle (Ricky Blewitt,$1.30 favourite) led all the way to win the Ossory Maiden Plate.
