A PAIR of local successes provided the highlights on the middle day of the Murray Downs Golf and Country Club Swan Hill June Racing Carnival.
Jane Duncan notched up the first local win of the carnival before Noel Watson made it a double.
Duncan sent out Silk King to make his debut in the Swan Hill Stockfeeds three-year-old Maiden Plate, the third race of the day.
Silk King needs to work on his fundamentals, but he showed on Saturday that he has ability by the barrow-load.
The three-year-old gelding — by American sire King Cugat — ambled out of the gates and took his time getting up to speed.
By the time jockey Michelle Hagley had him going, he was spotting the leaders eight lengths and sitting two lengths last.
Hagley didn’t panic, though, and rounded up half the field going wide on the home turn.
Silk King still had plenty of ground to make up on the leaders, but he reeled them in to score an impressive win on debut by two lengths.
Hagley doubled her tally and doubled the locals’ tally in the Pioneer Settlement Swan Hill BM58 Handicap, race six on the card, on board Warrior Lady for Noel Watson.
This time Hagley left it late, mowing down the two leaders with a last-stride win.
It was the five-year-old mare’s first win for Watson after 12 winless starts, and it was Watson’s first winner in close to two years.
Darren Weir was the day’s big winner, building on Friday’s 300-win milestone by adding three more to his tally.
Yulong Yongxing took out race two as the odds-on favourite with Dean Yendall in the saddle, before Declan Bates guided Star Circle to victory in race four.
Yendall got himself a double on another short-priced favourite Svetla’s Star in race five.
Mornington-based trainer Trent Pennuto had a good day as well, training a double as Escargot Fabuleux took out race one and Where to Next saluted in race eight, with Craig Robertson on board for each.
Jackie Beriman was another hoop in good form, as she picked up a double late in the day.
After steering Apoloboom to victory for Henry Dwyer in race seven, she got Doubtless Star home in the last for Warrnambool trainer Peter Chow thanks to a cheeky ride along the rails.
