Weekend races: Budgerigar goes back to back at Geraldton for final Saturday meet of the year

Favourites took a back seat at the Geraldton Turf Club for the final Saturday race meet for 2023. The first race saw roughie Ein Stein take out the win, as the four-year-old gelding was paying $17 for the victory, as Ashley Maley’s trained horse beat out Liberty Dame for first place. Race two was taken out by the favourite Queen Nardi, as Adam Durrant’s filly had previously strong showings and now picks up her first win with Zephen Johnston-Porter at the charge. In the longest race of the day at Geraldton, the 1925m race three was won by Play With Desire, as jockey Natasha Faithfull got her second win of the day, after winning with Ein Stein. The $9 horse grabbed the win over the favourite Westozi, who came in just behind with a second place finish. Julia Martin’s gelding Spirit Man grabbed his second consecutive win at Geraldton, with the four-year-old taking the win during race four. It was a day for repeat winners, as the next race was won by Budgerigar, picking up a second straight win at Geraldton in race five, this time with jockey Chris Nicoll. The exotics paid out well in the final two races, as the pre-race favourite for race six La Patrona was nowhere to be seen by the end, as the six-year-old Colour Me Quick picked up a nice win, paying $6. While the podium was rounded out by Yes Miss Jane and Mooniemia, with the trifecta in the race paying $488.50. Local gelding Frost David picked up the win in race seven, going back to back with his maiden win from the last meet. Paying $17 for the win, the trifecta for this race came out at $932.70. While that was the final Saturday race for the year, the turf club has two more meets, with the next coming up on Sunday, December 17, followed by the Walkaway Cup to wrap up the year on December 27. RESULTS Race 1: Ein Stein (5), Liberty Dame (8), Stay Astern (3). Race 2: Queen Nardi (11), Dreamtime Jean (6), Navy Sun (2). Race 3: Play With Desire (7), Westozi (2), Vanman (8). Race 4: Spirit Man (5), Allaboutthecraic (6), What A Prince (2). Race 5: Budgerigar (7), Be Seated (6), Albert (5). Race 6: Colour Me Quick (5), Yes Miss Jane (8), Mooniemia (4). Race 7: Frost David (1), Tycoon Demon (2), Soaring Solo (8).