By Mark Brassel
A seven-week freshen up has worked wonders for Sestina with the mare scoring a narrow win during the Bligh picnics held at Mudgee last Saturday.
Sestina (Anaelle Gangotena) heads out for a race at Goulburn. Image by Bradley Photographers
The six-year-old has now moved into calculations for the $50,000 2021 NSW Picnic Champion Series Final later in the year at Coonamble.
Sestina ($3), ridden by Anaelle Gangotena, narrowly upset the favourite Skullharderson (Maddison Wright, $2) to win the Birkalla Bracelet Collaroy Cup (1000m) by a half neck.
Regina Margherita (Leandro Ribeiro, $6) was a distant third five lengths astern.
Sestina earned seven points for the win and has moved into the top 10 on the Picnic Champion Series scoreboard with 20 points.
Drummed Out leads the points tally on 28 points followed by Regina Margherita (23 points) and Opera Tickets (22 points).
Three horses share fourth position on 21 points: Call Me Trinity, Nevada Sunrise and Song One.
Boys Home ($2 fav) is another to move up the ladder (now 12 points) following his win at Mudgee in the Merotherie Handicap (1400m).
For all the latest info (including Points Table & Honour Roll) on the Series click here - 2021 NSW Picnic Champion Series