Sean Cunningham, Narrandera Argus
Canberra trainer Luke Pepper combined with jockey Rebecca Bronett Prag to emerge triumphant with Hot Bandit ($4.60) in last Sunday’s Community Bank – Big Dance Eligibility Narrandera Showcase Cup race.
Trainer Craig Weeding’s runner Prince Of Helena was edged out near the finish line to deny the eight-year-old gelding his third consecutive Narrandera Cup win, with Louie’s Legacy in third place.
Hot Bandit was slowly away from the barrier and settled midfield in the early stages of the race, which was run over 1600 metres.
Forced wide approaching the final turn, Hot Bandit chased down Prince Of Helena in the final 100m to win by one-quarter of a length.
Hot Bandit’s victory took his career earnings to $160,150.
Out of Sebring Sun (sire) and She’s Red Hot (dam), the four-year-old gelding Hot Bandit’s career record now stands at six wins, five second-placings and two third placings from 21 starts.
Meanwhile, some other highlights on the eight-race card included a treble for jockey John Kissick and a double for Goulburn trainer Danielle Seib.
Kissick rode consecutive winners in the fourth, fifth and sixth races at the meeting.
He opened his account with the Ross Purcell-trained, seven-year-old gelding Mr Moppett ($13), then he backed up in the following race with a win for local Narrandera trainer Shane Bloomfield and his four-year-old mare Sun Drop ($3.90).
The last leg of Kissick’s winning treble came in the form of Canberra-based trainer John Rolfe’s runner, seven-year-old gelding, Dubai Centre ($7).
Earlier in the day, Goulburn trainer Danielle Seib already had two wins under her belt, winning the second and third races on the card.
The first victory was when the lightly-raced $2.50 favourite Dekadance broke her maiden status with jockey Pierre Boudvillain in the saddle.
The three-year-old filly made the most of her inside barrier draw to win the 1000m sprint race.
Seib didn’t have to wait long until she brought up her winning double with Due Calzini ($3.90) in the following race.
With Nick Heywood in the saddle, the victory gave the three-year-gelding his third win from 18 starts.
In the other races, Wagga trainer Michael Travers teamed up with jockey Mathew Cahill with Miss Pepeha ($3.90) in the opening race.
Jockey Billy Owen steered the three-year-old gelding Cougars ($3.70) to a third career win from 13 starts in the penultimate race for the training team of Barbara Joseph and Paul and Matt Jones.
Narrandera Racing Club Manager Michael Bailey hailed Sunday’s Cup meeting as a resounding success.
During the eventful meeting, the first four placegetters in the Cup feature race all broke the previous track record.
The winner Hot Bandit smashed the previous record of 1:35.15s when it crossed the finish line in 1:34.83s.
The Club President Grame Mathieson’s horse Just Go Bang which finished fourth ran a time of 1:35.05s.
“It was an amazing run,” Bailey said.
Bailey said the Calcutta on Saturday attracted more than double the usual crowd, with about 150 people in attendance.
He said the meeting drew a crowd of about 800 racegoers and included 81 runners in the eight races, which was “very strong across the board”.
“There were seven bookmakers for the first time at Narrandera for many years,” Bailey said.
“The entertainment was provided by Sameera Bashir – she was a very good entertainer.
“There were kids getting face-painting done and the fashions were awesome.
See all the pictures from the event in the issue.
This article appeared in Narrandera Argus, 17 July 2025.
