Narrogin success for Paige Kenney’s Miss Merit at opening thoroughbred meeting

Miss Merit scored her third career victory at the opening thoroughbred race meeting in Narrogin last Thursday. The six-year-old mare has shown plenty of potential for trainer Paige Kenney but has been disappointing since her last win back in April at Bunbury. However, she bounced back to her best last week on the seven-race program. After settling third in running for 4kg apprentice Austin Galati, Miss Merit produced a sharp turn of foot to gun down Secret Assault in the dying stages to win the Working With Warriors Handicap (930m) by a short neck. Five-year-old gelding Can’t Help Myself backed up his strong third at Ascot last start when he was able to break maiden status for trainer Garry McPherson at his 12th career start. Apprentice Laqdar Ramoly was able to sit just outside the leader throughout running and hit the lead in the straight to win the Talk To A Mate Handicap (930m) by under half a length. Having just his second start for Great Southern trainer Mark Westthorp, former Dion Luciani galloper Away We Go won the opening race. After getting the perfect run outside the leader for Kristy Bennett, Away We Go dug deep in the straight to hold off a number of challenges and win the Men’s Health Matters Maiden Handicap (1190) by a long head. Trainer Kayla Farrell notched a winning double after outsider Phoenix Of Wit and hot $1.75 favourite Foo Trouble won races four and five respectively. After dislodging apprentice Hannah Fitzgerald in her preliminary, Sporty Spice passed a veterinary check and went on to win race six in impressive fashion by more than two lengths. Leading WA trainer Adam Durrant tasted success in the final race on the program with True Ora, ridden by Keshaw Dhurun.