It was a superlative day in Cowra on Sunday for their Cup meeting and Parkes trainer Sharon Jeffries no doubt returned home with a spring in her step after in form mare Maria Elisa took out the Dr Geoffrey Sprigge Memorial BM 58 Handicap.
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Jumping from barrier 3 as the $4 favourite with apprentice Liam Blanch aboard, the mare settled midfield on the rails before trying to punch through on the inside at the top of the straight.
With the leader Bizarro ($1.80 fixed place) beginning to draw away from the rest of the field, Blanch opted to pull his mount outside of Bizarro - and just in the nick of time as he reeled in the leader in the shadows of the post to win by a head with the fast finishing Miss Devinci ($2.70 fixed place) filling the minor placings.
Well backed favourite Royal Thunder ($1.75) took at the Cowra Lamb Cowra Cup for Canberra trainer Matthew Dale while Dubbo's Kody Nestor took out the Breakout River Meats Cowra Japan Cup with What The Fuss ($3.50).
Since moving from Victorian trainer Rhys Archard to the Jeffries stable, Maria Elisa has recorded seven of her nine career wins and after coming back from a 21 week spell in November the six-year-old has won two Benchmark 58 races in her past four starts.
The strong, and consistent, performances have seen the mare earn $54,520 in prizemoney for the stable and Blanch, who has been aboard for the past four starts, is beginning to form a good connection with the horse in addition to providing a good weight relief.
Next up for Jeffries is this coming Saturday's Australia Day meeting right here in Parkes, with two runners nominated for the home track - which will be a welcome return to racing for the Parkes Jockey Club.
Five-year-old gelding Coulpa is nominated for the Telescope Tyres and Batteries BM 58, and is coming off a second placing (falling short by a nostril) in Gilgandra last start in addition to winning a Benchmark 50 at Coonamble on November 28 last year.
The second nomination, Flashlin, will be looking to break his maiden in the Parkes Farm Centre Maiden Plate and the talented young gelding is another runner who has appeared to find another gear since joining the Jeffries stable.
A full preview of Saturday's meeting in Parkes will be available in Friday's edition of the Parkes Champion Post, in addition to further raceday information.
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