By COLIN HODGES
Local identity Peter Maher will have plenty of tales to relate at the Forbes Jockey Club TAB meeting on Saturday as he continues to celebrate the stunning win last week by his veteran galloper Sneak Preview in the $150,000 Dubbo Gold Cup.
Along with friends from other central west towns, Peter is a part owner of Sneak Preview which returned to an incredibly emotional reception after beating a high quality 16 horse field supplied by some of the best known trainers in Australia including Chris Waller of Winx fame.
Originally trained at Dubbo by former top jockey Kody Nestor, Sneak Preview won important races including the 2020 Country Championship Qualifier at Coonamble however was transferred to Brisbane when Nestor sold his stables.
Winner of numerous races in Queensland, retirement was suggested when Sneak Preview lost form this campaign and the old gelding returned home to become a riding horse for a young lady.
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When unloaded at Dubbo, Kody Nestor requested for sentimental reasons one last leisurely ride around the Dubbo track on his old favourite.
So surprised was he by the attitude and feel of Sneak Preview he formed the opinion the veteran might be capable of another win.
The rest is now history, Kody Nestor’s uncle, Peter Nestor, became the trainer and Kody made a come back as a jockey when riding a winner at Collarenebri a fortnight before he was opposed to a top flight line-up riders in the Dubbo Gold Cup.
Brilliantly ridden by Kody Nestor, the rank outsider Sneak Preview came from further back than midfield in the 1600 metres Cup and overcoming interference in the straight was pushed through a narrow gap to beat the Brad Widdup, Hawkesbury trained High Dandy (Alysha Collett) and Hollywood Hero (Ashley Morgan) from the Bjorn Baker stable at Warwick Farm.
Despite being a good performer over many years, Sneak Preview, in the twilight of the racing career, officially started at $71 however odds of over $100 were snapped up by close connections.
A well known bookmaker operating at Mungery Picnic races on Sunday, confided that it was just coming to light the substantial amount of money taken from the betting ring after the Dubbo Cup.
“Every bookmaker operating on the race is reporting very heavy losses after paying out thousands of dollars on Sneak Preview," he revealed.
“It was a very big betting plunge and well planned."
Interviewed on ABC radio this week by Geoff Mann, Kody Nestor spoke about the early days when he trained Sneak Preview and prolific winner Fast Talking and owners like his father Mick Nestor from Dubbo and Peter Maher from Forbes who have been great supporters right from the start.
The well liked Peter Maher is a good sponsor of racing in Forbes and widely known for his times as a wool buyer, shearing contractor and shearing supplies retailer.
Becoming a popular stopping point for photographers and racing fans are the murals outside his Bogan Gate road residence depicting his racehorses in full flight.
“I will have to get another one done now of Sneak Preview winning the Dubbo Gold Cup," Peter laughed.
Leading trainers including Gayna Williams from Bathurst, Brett Thompson (Gulgong) and the Dubbo based Michael Mulholland, Brett Robb and Clint Lundholm have nominations for the Spring meeting on Saturday which follows the very successful Forbes Cup meeting in August.
Final acceptances were due on Thursday morning.
