Hometown trainer Stirling Osland made a splash with a winning treble on the Armidale Cup Day undercard.
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The triple treat was the first of Osland’s training career and you get the feeling it will not be the last for the talented young horseman.
“We’re enjoying what we’re doing,” Osland said.
“We’ve been looking towards this Armidale carnival for a long time, planning for the past six months to be here on this day.
“To get them here was fantastic and right on the day is even better.”
Osland kick-started things when Closely Related ($8.00) finally broke her maiden status at start 19.
“She was very good today,” Osland said.
“I wasn’t that confident either, she had never really performed on a soft track and we didn’t think heavy would be any better for her.
He completed a running double after ironhorse Zarabeel ($4.60) hung on in the Armidale Servies Class 3 Handicap (1900m).
Mishani Scout loomed large, but it was the daughter of Savabeel saluting by a short-neck.
The success also completed a double for jockey Ben Looker, who earned Osland’s plaudits.
“Benny squeezed up the inside (rail) and she dug deep,” he said.
“If we had to go around horses it might have been a different story.”
Osland finished a dream day in style thanks to emerging filly Prada Miss (Rachael Murray), who surged home from last in a 1300m Benchmark 58 Handicap.
“She’s got a fair bit of ability, was down in the weights today and produced a nice, strong run late,” he said.