By John Schell
Top country jockey Nick Heywood heads to Dubbo today with four quality mounts awaiting.
Heywood will combine with trainer Clint Lundholm when he partners Zounile in the Australian Turf Club Foundation Benchmark 58 Handicap (1600m).
He will also ride Wolf Bay in the Elson Boy – Kosciuszko Contender Country Boosted Benchmark 58 Handicap (1100m) for Lundholm. Heywood’s remaining two rides at Dubbo are Prince Of Sorts in the Vale Brian Medley | Medley Refrigeration & Air Conditioning Super Maiden Plate (1100m) for trainer Allan Kehoe, and Dreambender in the Gallant Star – Kosciuszko Contender Country Boosted Benchmark 58 Handicap (1100m) for Todd Howlett.
Jockey Nick Heywood should be in the thick of the action at Dubbo.Credit: bradleyphotos.com.au
Zounile is a six-year-old mare with plenty of starts to her name but she has hit form again of late with thirds at her last two starts, including a last-start third at Gilgandra. Wolf Bay contests its event on the back of a last-start second at Gundagai behind subsequent winner You’re On Mute, which scored at Forbes last Sunday.
Wolf Bay is a Beaumont track winner at Newcastle as an odds-on favourite in March of last year, and comes into this resuming effort on the back of a Warren barrier trial victory.
Tassort three-year-old Prince Of Sorts looms as a top chance for Heywood in its event after finishing midfield at Wyong on debut when well in the market.
Reece Jones was in the saddle on Prince Of Sorts in the Wyong event that came on the back of two trial wins at Hawkesbury and Newcastle. Dreambender is a son of Snitzel that broke his maiden at this track back in June when hitting the line well.
He’s since performed well in each of his next two starts and if he can up to those efforts then he can go on with the job here.
Howlett has a couple of good chances going around at Dubbo, with Outback Crumpet set to take
beating in the Australian Turf Club Foundation Benchmark 58 Handicap (1600m).
Mikayla Weir will partner Outback Crumpet, which won at Gunnedah two starts ago before a
midfield effort in Highway grade at Randwick last time out.
