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By JOSH MILLER

It was a competitive day’s racing at Horsham on Monday, which saw local connections hold their own against some strong visiting rivals.

Andrew Bobbin’s four-year-old mare, Fighting Sweet, defied a considerable betting drift – $9.50 to $21 – in race four to take out an 1800-metre maiden contest by two lengths.

It was a significant form-reversal for the daughter of Fighting Sun, who in her five previous career starts had not finished better than seventh place.

Earlier in the day, Paul Preusker’s promising galloper, Watch Hill, finished strongly to win over the 1400-metre trip.

The four-year-old gelding had been knocking on the door with two competitive efforts in stronger company and was able to break his maiden status with a half-length win on his home track.

Jockey Declan Bates, with three winners on the program, had to pull out all the stops on the home bend as the Ciaron Maher-David Eustace-trained Wilsons Prom pinched a break. 

But Preusker’s charge was strong to the line and claimed the prize with a tough performance. 

He looks like a runner we can follow as he races through his grades.

Horsham’s next meeting is on Sunday, October 17, where it is likely a Horsham Cup program will proceed without spectators for the second year running. 

Horsham and District Racing Club president Jason Merlo paid tribute to sponsors who had stuck with the club throughout the crowd lockouts.

“Our sponsors have been great, staying onboard,” he said. 

Mr Merlo was also upbeat about the program on cup day, noting the club had gained a strong benchmark-70 race and the cup distance had been extended to 2100 metres. “We’ve been pushing for the cup to get out to 2100 metres,” he said.

“We are hoping to attract better-quality horses from bigger stables that might look to progress to other country cups.”