2026 Wellington Soldiers Memorial Club $200,000 Wellington Boot winner Hellenic Belle with club president Robyn Edwards, connections, jockey Braith Nock, Wellington Race Club president Peter Barton and connections during the Boot presentation. The large Boot held by Robyn Edwards was presented to owners while a smaller version was presented to the jockey and the trainers Annabel and Rob Archibald of Scone.
The late Peter Milling’s three daughters presented the Peter Milling Memorial Wellington Cup to connections of the winner, Perfumist ridden by Liberty Smyth and trained by Bjorn Baker.
The 2026 Wellington Boot Tooheys Guys and Dolls Challenger with competition organisers Sharon Wilson of Wellington & District Leader (left) and Jane Angelini representing the Wellington Soldiers Memorial Club (far right).
Kevena Unwin - winner of the 2026 Wellington Boot Tooheys Guys and Dolls Challenge. She picked Boot winner Hellenic Belle.
Wellngton races are not just for adults, the kids enjoy them too.
Scone trainers top Boot performers
BY COLIN HODGES
FORMER BULL rider and now champion apprentice jockey Braith Nock on Sunday won the $200,00 Wellington Soldiers Memorial Club and Golf Club -Wellington Boot (1100 metres) for the second time in three years.
In 2024 Nock won the iconic Boot on Fingers Hunter for Scone trainer Brett Cavanough and this year it was aboard the Annabel and Rob Archibald Scone trained Hellenic Belle.
Close to the lead turning for home, Hellenic Belle ($4) broke clear and held off the late charge from Better Off Alone (Mathew Cahill, $7) to win by over a length with Bar Jester (Coriah Keatings, $3.70) finishing third just ahead of $91 outsider Maryvale ridden by Clayton Gallagher for trainer Brett Robb.
Well-performed on Sydney tracks, the Bjorn Baker, Warwick Farm trained Perfumist (apprentice Liberty Smyth, $2.90 favourite) led throughout to win the $100,000 Peter Milling & Company-Peter Milling Memorial “Big Dance Eligibility” Wellington Cup (1700 metres) in a close finish from Green Run (Jacob Stiff, $26) and Instead (Braith Nock, $3.70).
Likewise, a good front running performance by the Jane Clement, Mendooran trained Chandon Star (Shannen Llewellyn, $9.50) when beating Pride To Follow (Mikayla Weir, $2.50 fav) and Cougars (Coriah Keatings, $4) in the $75,000 Wellington Soldiers Memorial Club & Golf Club Wellington Town Plate over 1100 metres.
Unwavering faith in the horse and an extreme level of perseverance by the owners, trainer and stable staff was finally rewarded when Egyptologist won the 1700m LSS Locksmith & Security Solutions Benchmark 58 Handicap.
Always possessed of abundant ability, Egyptologist was very close to a lifetime ban from racing when refusing on multiple times to enter the starting stalls before races and official barrier trials.
On best behaviour at two recent starts, Egyptologist ($5) with an exceptionally good ride by Jake Pracey-Holmes led throughout to beat Take The Chance (Ken Dunbar, $4.20) and Peruno (Deep Shankar, $8) on Wellington Boot day.
Gulgong trainer Brett Thompson heaped praise on his sons Ben, Jay and Kurt who with other stable staff and jockey Jake Pracey-Holmes had worked tirelessly to get Egyptologist back to the races.
Thompson also drew attention to the owners including Wellington committee members Michael and Simone Keirle for their support and perseverance during the difficult times with Egyptologist.
Since moving to Forbes last year, Melissa Harrison has built a good reputation as a trainer and it was a nice performance by Strassman (Clayton Gallagher, $12) when gathering in the leaders to win the 1400m Lattitude Liquor Super Maiden Plate from Forwarding (Ken Dunbar, $18) and Miss Maverick (Mikayla Weir, $3).
Under the expert guidance of Dubbo jockey Ken Dunbar, the Michael Lynch, Cowra trained Bounding Bon ($15) swept home along the rails to account for Jamacri (Jacob Stiff, $8.50) and Chappolicious (Braith Nock, $2 fav) in the 1100m Cleanpeak Energy Country Magic Class 1 Showcase Handicap.
The other winners on Boot day were Hanuman (Braith Nock, $1.95 fav) trained by Mack Griffith and Denman Force (Jake Pracey-Holmes, $7) trained by Brett Thompson.
Friday’s feature
First day (Friday) of the very successful Wellington Boot Carnival featured the 2400 metres Over The Line Racing-Iron Horse for stayers, won by the Ross Lomax, Mudgee trained Blazing Guru.
Ross Lomax is a noted trainer of horses racing over longer distances and a very fit Blazing Guru (Zac Wadick, $3.90 equal favourite) after taking a slender lead at the top of the straight held on strongly to win from Williams To Excel (Jake Pracey-Holmes, $3.90) and Tavijewej (Jordan Quince, $10).
Wellington will next race on Tuesday, May 26.