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By Colin Hodges

In front of the biggest crowd at a Parkes Cup meeting for many years, the feature race was a thriller with the Terry Croft, Hawkesbury-trained Just A Brother gaining the judges verdict in a four-way photo finish.

The $3.80 favourite Listen To The Band led until halfway down the straight from From The Bush with Sea Of Flames and Toretto both emerging from the chasing pack.

Just A Brother (Regan Bayliss) heads to the gates at Warwick Farm. Image by Bradley Photographers

Patiently ridden by Mikayla Weir, the $31 chance Just A Brother was second last as the 12-horse field approached the home turn before powering down the outside to win the 1600m Parkes Services Club Parkes Cup from Invertational (Coriah Keatings, $6), Sea Of Flames (Shayleigh Ingelse, $7) and Toretto (Nick Heywood, $4.40).

Winning trainer Terry Croft completed a memorable day when Starros won the following race, the 1200m Coachman Hotel Punters Club Class 2 Showcase Plate.

Swooping on the leading pair, Starros (Billy Owen, $8) shot away to score by over three lengths from Bliss (Shannen Llewellyn, $26) and Cruzingdafield (Mathew Cahill, $2.30 favourite).

Dubbo trainer Brett Robb and his apprentice Shannen Llewellyn continued their impressive winning run when Blitzar took out the feature sprint, the 1200m Telescope Tyres & Hankook Tyres Satellite Handicap.

Resuming from a spell and first-up for the Robb stable, Blitzar ($15) took the lead from Kattegat when heads turned for home and won by almost two lengths from Extravagant Lad (Mathew Cahill, $4) and Rathlin (Coriah Keatings, $26).

Owned by Nathan Smith and trained at Orange by his wife Alison Smith, One More Thing as a $31 outsider sprung a surprise when winning the opening event, the 1000m D’Aquino’s Grand Hotel & Prout Assist Country Boosted Maiden Handicap.

Will Stanley who married fellow jockey Chelsea Ings last week, brought One More Thing with a strong run from well back to beat Charge Away (Shayleigh Ingelse, $8) and Foxwell (Heavelon Van Der Hoven, $2.10 to $1.60 fav).

Leading for home, the consistent Paul Clisby, Dubbo-trained Starane (Shayleigh Ingelse, $4.20 to $3.80 fav) won the 1000m Parkes Farm Centre & Can-Am Benchmark 58 Handicap by nearly three lengths from Sparkingly (Nick Heywood, $6) and Beau Factor (Shannen Llewellyn, $5).

The other winners were the Maree Hopkins, Cowra-trained Flying Dubawi (Nick Heywood, $7), the Michael Lunn, Dubbo-trained Charlotting (Mathew Cahill, $4.80) and Boongarra Girl (Jake Pracey-Holmes,$14) trained at Bathurst by Gayna Williams.

Apart from the racing, the big array of family based attractions at the immaculately presented Parkes Racecourse proved a winner for Parkes Jockey Club.

NOTE: The well promoted Arrowfield Queen Of The West and Mercedes-Benz Dubbo Ladies Race Day TAB meeting on Saturday is forecast to also attract a big crowd.