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By Colin Hodges

Mudgee galloper Osman held off the fast finishing Just A Brother to win the $50,000 Bankstown Sports Club Forbes Cup before a big crowd on Sunday and has earned eligibility for the $3 million Big Dance at Royal Randwick in November.

Trained by Mack Griffith, Osman has now won 9 races and been placed 8 times from 29 starts and the latest win took prizemoney earnings to over $200,000.

Starting the $3.20 favourite for the 1600m Cup was All In The Mind, a winner at Tipperary in Ireland before coming to Australia.

Osman (Molly Bourke) in winning touch at Wyong. Image by Bradley Photographers

Now with the Bjorn Baker stable at Warwick Farm, All In The Mind was a last start winner at Canterbury and obtained a good early position.

Stablemate, Don Pedro took up the front runners role followed by Osman, From The Bush, All In The Mind and Belleistic Kids with the 2023 Forbes Cup winner Just A Brother a distinct last in the 14-horse field.

Turning for home, Osman (Nick Heywood, $8) swept to the lead and won by a half length from the Terry Croft, Hawkesbury-trained Just A Brother (Clayton Gallagher, $20) which charged to the line while the 2022 Forbes Cup winner One Aye was a creditable third.

One Aye (Mitch Stapleford, $11) and the fourth placegetter Belleistic Kids are trained at Canberra by Barbara Joseph, Paul Jones & Matt Jones.

Attempting to win the 1200m feature sprint, the Forbes Shire Council Amazing Ben Hall Bullet for the second year in succession, Blitzar was beaten in a photo finish by Miss Jennifer after both had raced near the back of the field.

Owned by the McMahon family from Tullamore and trained at Goulburn by Danny Williams, Miss Jennifer (Nick Heywood, $2.15 favourite) overhauled Blitzar (Clayton Gallagher, $9) in the last stride to win by a half neck with the leader Destiny’s Bounty (Will Stanley, $6.50) battling on well for third.

The other leg of a winning treble for the very much in-form Nick Heywood was the Clint Lundholm, Dubbo-trained Stockholm, $3.30 fav) which wore down Toongi Bound (Clayton Gallagher, $7.50) with Injada (Cobi Vitler, $15) filling third place in the 1400m Roylance Tractor Replacements Showcase Benchmark 58 Handicap.

John Smith, a Life Member of Gilgandra Jockey Club, is enjoying success as the owner of Big Shot Legend.

Trained at Gilgandra by Kieren Hazelton, Big Shot Legend after winning at Warren made it a double when taking out the 1400m Shead & Nicholson/Daikin Showcase Class 1 Handicap at Forbes.

Late on the scene, Big Shot Legend (Siena Grima, $12) burst through the pack to beat Royal Veloute (Clayton Gallagher, $2.50 fav) and Ishamashi (Mikayla Weir, $9.50).

At debut, Bamboula ran a good race when fourth at Dubbo and the 5yo gelding improved further to win the 1300m Molly Walker 10th Anniversary Memorial $50,000 Showcase Super Maiden Handicap at Forbes.

Trained by Jim McMillan at Wellington and ridden by his apprentice Dylan Stanley, Bamboula ($8.50) took a narrow lead at the top of the straight and impressed when forging clear to win by over a length from Let’s Go Leo (Mikayla Wir, $9) and Sashabella (Williams Stanley, $15).

The other winners at Forbes were Maybe Maureen (Mathew Cahill, $3.90) trained by Scott Collings at Goulburn, the Dar Lunn, Dubbo-trained Amantaka (Cobi Vitler, $8) and You’re On Mute (Olivia Chambers, $3.80) trained at Wagga Wagga by Darrell Burnett.

Forbes will next race on Saturday 12th October with the Louth Cup this Saturday and Dubbo TAB on Sunday.

View the full results with race replays for Forbes here