Racing concluded for the season at Woolamai on Saturday with the annual Phillip Island Health Hub Race Day which raises funds for the Island’s community hospital.
Fashions on the Field once again proved popular with categories from elegance to children’s to novelty attracting a large number of paying entrants.
The day kicked off in fine style for jockey Melinda McDonald, who won the first two races, putting her in late contention for the Woolamai jockeys’ premiership.
She won the first on Miss Nordeecia for Cranbourne trainer Jack Laing by five lengths and the second on Sacra for trainer Jason Evans.
This put Sacra and the Colac galloper Here’s To Jane on equal points for Horse of the Year; with the latter – finishing third to the Ebony Tucker-trained Bluet De France in the fourth race.
However Sacra won the title with one more win than Here’s To Jane whose bad manners at the barrier disappointed connections and might have contributed to a lesser performance.
The third race was the first of a winning double for jockey, Seb “Perce” Galea and Sale trainer Troy Kilgower with Garnet winning the Phillip Island Winery Maiden over the 1008 metres.
Elly Dee then ran away to win the fifth over the same distance carrying the steadier of 72.5kg.
The last saw Dylan Dean make sure of his jockeys’ premiership win by saluting on Maid On Stryke; holding off Mel McDonald on Downtown man.
Mel had the consolation of winning ride of the day on the runaway winner of the first; Miss Nordeecia.
Racing will resume late November or early December at Woolamai.
-Peter McCluskey-
