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One of the more understated sprinters across country NSW is out to snap a run of close placings and claim her first win in 2026 at Monday’s feature Dubbo meeting.
Crook, a tough five-year-old mare in the local Clint Lundholm stable, hasn’t saluted since back-to-back wins in the Central West late last year.
That said, she’s been in the placings four times from five runs this campaign since resuming on the last day of autumn.
Crook had finished 2025 with consecutive wins in BM 58 grade at Orange and Bathurst before spelling. She returned on winter’s eve with a strong finishing second in heavy going at Scone before again beating all but the winner in the feature BM 82 Cannonball at Warren over 1000m.
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Then she was only a long neck from the winner in a tougher BM 68 at Hawkesbury before an even effort in stronger metropolitan company at Canterbury.
Crook returned home and was stiff not to win the Cup Sprint Prelude over 1120m, charging home late to miss by a head on very heavy ground.
Yet despite all the near misses, she still has four wins from 13 career starts and will bump that strike up to nearly 40 per cent if successful today.
Crook opened around $5 in early betting for this feature Benchmark 82 Handicap over 1200m to close the program, well behind Mudgee six-year-old and clear favourite Crusader Kings ($2.20), which resumes off a dominant trial win.
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The best has been saved for last, with a smart field of sprinters assembling to cap another very competitive betting meeting.
Dubbo has begun the three-week countdown to Showcase Gold Cup day on September 27 and a shot at the Randwick Big Dance in spring, with a record crowd already being tipped.
Supplied by Racing NSW
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