Apprentice jockey Shelby Colgate and the Steve Wolfe-trained Gee Pee Ess scored an impressive three-length victory in Saturday’s Collie Cup.
Just a small field of five horses contested the 2000 metre journey. Approaching the final turn, Colgate kicked last year’s runner up into a new gear, dashing clear to salute the judge three lengths clear of short-priced favourite Quintessence.
Last year’s winner Cushryn could only manage third, six lengths off the winner. Early leader Chancery battled on to finish fourth while Weekend Shadow dropped out before the turn to finish a distant last.
The day started roughly for punters with Platelayer ($32.60) scoring a half-length victory for apprentice hoop Casey Hunter.
A bob of the head gave Lisa Staples a short-head win in race two aboard Nevarda ($4.10) ahead of Little Miss Charm.
Race three saw another upset, with jockey George Scimone scoring a three-and-a-half length win aboard top-weight Bernardini Genie at the healthy return of $22.90.
Favourite Forbidden Planet ($2.50) won race four for jockey Chanelle O’Grady like a good thing should while Bunbury jockey Kyra Yuill won the last aboard the Mark Bairstow trained Portonian ($5.20).
The day was also a chance for Collie to get dressed up for the Fashions on the Field competition.
Jessica Barrett won the teenage category ahead of Jordan Humphryson while Scott Hamilton was named best-dressed man ahead of Brendon Gesue.
Casey Browne won the 18-29 year old fashion category ahead of Kristy O’Connor, Chantelle Fontana and Nicole Gesue.
The Open category was won by Denny Vernon ahead of Lisa Jacobs, Tiffany Southcott and Jess Tilbrook.