It was a good day for favourites as Mount Isa returned to one of its favourite pastimes on Saturday.
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Over 200 people booked out Buchanan Park for the first race meeting in which the general public was invited to a Covid-safe event with no standing at the venue allowed.
Four of the six races were taken out by the bookmakers' favourites making for a satisfactory outing for many punters.
Race 1 the QTIS Class 3 Plate over 1450 metres, there was a win for Kiwi-bred favourite Almighty Gold. The five-year-old gelding trained by Damien Finter and ridden by champion jockey Dan Ballard won by over two lengths from Dixie Rouge with Echelon Rose a further half length back in third.
The favourite also prevailed in Race 2, the Open Handicap 1450m. Jockey Terrence Hill steered the Tanya Parry-trained Charlie Cat to victory by almost six lengths from Rock Tsar with Explosive Missile a further one and a half lengths back in third.
But there was an upset in Race 3 the Benchmark 55 Handicap over 1000 metres when favourite Christmas Creek trained by Denise Ballard and ridden by son Dan was beaten on the line by the long neck of Hologram, ridden by Ray Hancock and trained by Steven Royes.
Alotafox was a length and half back in third.
In Race 4 Maiden Plate over 1200m the two Justins, trainer Bawden and jockey Esser combined to bring favourite Time for Us home to win over Show Some Heart by three lengths with Cate Rules third.
Race 5 Class B Handicap 1200m was the biggest boilover of the day with $26 shot Nitro City getting the win for jockey Keith Ballard and trainer Shryn Royes.
But in Race 6 Benchmark 69 Handicap 1200m favourite Missed Out did not miss out getting the second win of the day for the Damien Finter-Dan Ballard combo.
Meanwhile Cloncurry and District Race say they will invite spectators to their spring races meeting on Saturday, September 12.
"More event details and our annual membership drive will be coming soon," the Cloncurry club said.
"Races next Sunday August 23 will be open for essential racing personnel and owners only."