Sport
13 February, 2026
Promising pair give successful opening to a super week
The strong week continued when McNaulty Racing produced a winning double at Ballarat on Thursday with the night’s best-backed runner Impeached, and the maiden five-year-old trotter Leggy Peggy.
THE Charlton club’s meeting last Monday kicked off a highly successful week for local owners, trainers and drivers.
The former Charlton-based combination of Shane and Ryan Sanderson landed two early winners on the card with a pair of promising three-year-olds raced by Willowood Farm.
Their second winner, Dallascowboy - an American Ideal colt - impressed and looks to have a very bright future on the strength of Monday’s performance.
Tori Hutchins and Luke Dunne continued their excellent run with Lester, the nine-year-old gelding who has been rejuvenated since joining their stable just over four months ago.
From 11 runs under their care, Lester has now produced four wins and four placings.
On Monday he settled well back early but Luke secured a lovely cart into the race and Lester finished too strongly, outstaying his rivals to win by 1.1m.
A six-race program at Shepparton on Tuesday night saw the locally connected Tormey team strike again, with the Alison Tormey-owned, John Tormey-trained pacing mare The Ladybird NZ winning her ninth race. The Art Major mare was driven by Ellen Tormey.
Maryborough raced on Wednesday afternoon and, while Luke Dunne was heading to Mildura for seven drives that night, partner Tori Hutchins combined with Jordan Leedham to win the AB Paint Trot with Rakero Warrior.
The trotter dominated the race, streeting the opposition to win by 13.4m, rating 2.01.1 for the 2190m trip. Raced by Robert Royce Racing, Rakero Warrior has now won five of ten starts since joining the Hutchins stable.
At the Charlton meeting on Monday, trainer Zac Steenhuis outlined plans to head to Mildura on Wednesday with Brave Art, aiming to target the mares’ race carrying a $5,000 Vicbred Voucher bonus. The trip paid off, with Alex Ashwood producing a textbook drive.
After extracting the filly from the peg line early, Ashwood ensured she had a clear passage around the field and the $1.45 favourite did the rest, scoring by a neck.
The strong week continued when McNaulty Racing produced a winning double at Ballarat on Thursday with the night’s best-backed runner Impeached, and the maiden five-year-old trotter Leggy Peggy.
Impeached had endured bad luck at his previous two starts but bounced back strongly.
Starting from inside the second row and still eighth at the 800m, he unleashed a four-wide sweep around the home turn and surged clear to win by 5.0m, clocking a slick personal last half of 57.49 seconds.
Leggy Peggy’s maiden win was a highlight, showcasing the depth of the late Rick Healy’s bloodlines. Bred by Pat Driscoll’s Yabby Dam Farms, she traces back to Maori Miss, dam of the legendary Maoris Idol—a winner of 40 from 46 starts.
Leggy Peggy, racing for the first time since May 2024, was driven with confidence by Scott Torney, who had her in the one-out, one-back running line before facing the breeze for much of the 1710m.
Still travelling at the 400m, she sprinted away when asked, bolting in untouched by 14.2m and rating 2.00.5—an excellent performance in a maiden front event.
Coming up: Maryborough and Mildura today, followed by Charlton next Monday, which is the club’s final meeting before their cup day on March 15.