Bathurst trainer-driver Mat Rue is absolutely flying at the moment, out of the placings in just three of his past 10 drives, and he took out the first heat of the Gilgandra Windmill Parkes to Dubbo Series with The Runnin Kind on Friday in Parkes.
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The five-year-old mare, who is trained by Rue's father Ken in Bathurst, was the $1.70 favourite yet still managed to make a mockery of the price with a scintillating 28.4 metre win in 1:59.6.
Rue sat comfortably in the back of the field before making his move to challenge the leaders on the bell.
It was on the back straight where Rue pressed the go button though, with the Alta Christiano x Queen Khawaja mare opening up a huge lead and running strongly right through the line.
It was her fourth career win in 10 starts, and Rue said after the race that the manner in which she won was really pleasing.
"She's not one that likes to be left out in front too long, so when the draw came out I was pretty happy," he said.
"They run it to suit her, they went pretty fast the whole way."
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Despite having a strong start to her career, which began with a win on debut in June at Bathurst, Rue said there was still a bit the mare needed to learn.
"It'll do her good, this win," he said.
"She's pretty easy to drive but she's not real race savvy yet which is why these kind of races are really important.
"She felt really good in the last 700 metres, and it was good to see her win by a margin and I think she'll learn a lot by doing that.
"A nice fast time too," said Rue.
Rue managed three second placings and a third to go with his win on Friday, and with a wry smile he said he loved coming to Parkes.
"The track is in great order, as it always is...I love driving here!"
The Gilgandra Windmill Parkes to Dubbo Series final takes place this Saturday night in Dubbo, with $8568 in prizemoney on the line to go with a trophy and rug.
It's the club's annual Gilgandra Community race meeting and the first race meeting since July they can welcome back patrons, so it is set to be a cracking night.
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