PURE Faith made the jump from maiden class to Class 1 when the Scone-trained mare led all the way for a dominating win at Gunnedah on Thursday.
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The four-year-old mare, a daughter of Pierro, had won her last start at Gilgandra over 1200m and made the jump in class and distance impressively to beat odds-on favourite Solar Panel in the $22,000 LoveNSW Fillies & Mares Class 1 Handicap (1400m).
"She did it easy in front, won very well," said jockey Ben Looker.
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He said the track was good and the Moree and Gunnedah clubs deserved credit for transferring the seven-race TAB meeting, which had been set down for Moree.
He also said HNWRA chief steward Shane Cullen also deserved praise for moving the meeting from a rain-affected Moree track to a perfect surface at Gunnedah.
Pure Faith trainer Brett Cavanough also praised Cullen and the club. He said: "Mr Cullen is all about getting the prizemoney out to all the participants."
Pure Faith, he added, has improved.
Also improved is the Glenn Morgan-trained Knock Toff.
The six-year-old gelding son of Toorak Toff was having his first start for owner/trainer Glenn Morgan in the $22,000 Volunteers Open Handicap (950m) at Gunnedah, and led all the way to notch a fourth career win.
The former Queensland gelding was trained by Bryan and Daniel Guy at the Gold Coast but sold to Morgan, the father of Luke and Cody, won the HNWRA Country Championships Qualifier with Ligulate on Sunday.
"It's been 15 months," Glenn Morgan said of a patient wait to race the gelding after he had some bone chips removed from a knee.
"We gave him a couple of unofficial jump outs and then a good trial."
He said the gelding has been a "pleasure to have around the stable", and will no doubt be even more welcome after his win.
Brooke Stower has been riding the gelding in his work and thanked Morgan for sticking with her.
"The horse has been flying, working enormous," she said after leading favourite Cocky Rocky and co a merry dance. "I was excited to be riding him today."
She was also surprised his opposition left him alone in front.
