Bairstow’s happy hunting ground continues

Mark Bairstow’s success in the Great Southern continued as he chalked up a second winner in the region this season with Illusion Of Light blasting home to win The Rural Building Company Handicap (1230m) in Albany last Thursday.

After 12 winners in the Great Southern last season, Bairstow’s outstanding strike rate in the region is continuing with Niccatrice and now Illusion Of Light giving him success again.

Well supported into $4.70 on the tote, the eight-year-old settled fifth before sprinting home strongly for jockey Lee Newman to down $2.50 favourite Boxonlucy by a length to end a winning drought of 1262 days for the mare.

It was the start of a big couple of days for the Bairstow team as they went on to claim the $100,000 Tabtouch Regional Championship: The Road To Ascot Final on day two of the Masters with Niccatrice.

Albany trainer Peter Western and rider Jason Whiting also had a top day, winning the final two races with Hostwin Pegasus and Parisienne Lady.

Hostwin Pegasus carried 60kg to win race 6 by a half head over Friarfighter and improve his record to six wins from 27 career starts.

Parisienne Lady went one better than her runner-up effort at Albany last start to record a dominant 1 ½ length win in the last race.