MUSWELLBROOK and Tamworth race clubs are preparing for huge Melbourne Cup Day meetings on Tuesday in different fashion this week.
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While Tamworth has a five-race non-TAB program planned on November 5, where about 1500 patrons are the major factor, Muswellbrook will stage another seven-race TAB card.
The organisation used to host its Muswellbrook Cup on the Melbourne Cup Day meeting but has pushed that back to earlier in the year with the Muswellbrook Coal Company Bowman Sprint the feature race on Tuesday.
At the weekend, Muswellbrook conducted a seven-race TAB program at its Skellatar Park venue with the Sandy Hollow Cup a feature.
Earlier in the day, Scone trainer John Ramsey celebrated a third successive win for promising filly Bright Rubick.
She demolished her opposition, running away with the Scone Equine Hospital Class 3 Handicap (1500m) in brilliant fashion.
"She goes good," Ramsey said after her victory.
"She's a good little filly with a bit of potential."
He said her next preparation might include a crack at the Country Championships before heading to Brisbane for the Winter Carnival.
Ramsey is enjoying a good season and has five winners for the HNWRA in 2019-20.
He's equal fifth on the trainer's premiership with fellow Scone-ite Brett Cavanough and Tamworth trio Sue Grills, Cody and Luke Morgan.
Kris Lees leads the charge with 18 winners after Bandahara won the second race of the day.
Aaron Bullock, who leads the jockey's premiership with 27 wins, was the triumphant hoop.
Stable foreman Chris Hull said Bandahara "is a nice horse and is only going to get better once he gets over ground".
The stable then made it a double when Perfect Peace sailed to victory courtesy of a brilliant Andrew Gibbons ride.
The three-year-old filly had drawn wide (12) in The Happy Tooth Benchmark 58 Handicap (1280m) but the jockey had her third on the fence after just 100m.
Gibbons then pounced as they straightened to snare a good win.
Sky Thoroughbred Racing Central's Gary Harley described it as a "masterful piece of riding" and possibly one of Gibbons' best in more than 1000 race victories.
Hull added she was "going to be a lovely filly".