CLASS prevailed at round one of bush racing’s Golden Triangle on Saturday when former Queenslander Connewarre bloused a strong field of sprinters in the 950m RDO Equipment Moree Picnic Bracelet.

Connewarre, trained at Inverell by Wayne Oakenfull, parked off the speed under Scone jockey Ashley Boyd before charging clear in the straight to win comfortably.

The gelding, a five-year-old by Whittington, has now set up a possible start in the 1000m Mallawa Bracelet on June 6.

Sent out a well-tried $1.70 favourite on the strength of good barrier trial form in Toowoomba, Connewarre won by nearly four lengths from Connie Greig’s Callie Cool ($3), with Scott Cover’s Powerstone ($4.20) half-a-length away third.

Boyd, who won earlier in the day on Irish Arthur in the 950m Nutrien Ag Solutions Class B Handicap for Brodie Fenton, said Connewarre carried 73.5kg with ease.

Strapper Tammy Sproule brings Connewarre and jockey Ashley Boyd back to scale after winning the 950m RDO Equipment Moree Picnic Bracelet on Saturday.

“He’s a good TAB horse and carried the weight well – carried it easily, actually,” Boyd said.

“He jumped and travelled, like a good horse does. We were third, one off the fence, and just peeled out three-wide straightening up.

“He went through his gears and put them away easily,” he said.

Connewarre is owned by trainer Wayne Oakenfull’s wife, Jillian, in partnership with the Green Roof Syndicate, which includes the mayor of Gundagai, Abb McAlister.

Oakenfull, who also won at home track Inverell on Friday with Afloat, said his son, Justin, spotted Connewarre for sale at Magic Millions tried horse digital earlier this year.

The horse was previously trained at Toowoomba by Matt Kropp, who won five races with the five-year-old.

“Matt said Connewarre would be the ideal horse for where we want to take him,” Oakenfull said.

“If the horse goes to Mallawa, we’ll probably run him in the bracelet, rather than the cup. It’s only 1000m on the dirt, but the big track will suit him.

“We’ll save Shut Eye for the Mallawa Cup and also run Pub Feed in the 1200m maiden,” he said.

Round two of the Golden Triangle at Mallawa features six races, including the 1400m Mallawa Cup, won last year by Pahang, and the 1000m Mallawa Bracelet.

Talmoi Picnic Race Club rounds out the carnival at Garah on Saturday, June 20.

Bush Racing’s Golden Triangle

Mallawa: Saturday, June 6. Updates at Mallawa Facebook Page

Online tickets for Mallawa: Mallawa Picnic Races TIX

Talmoi: Saturday, June 20. Updates at Talmoi Facebook Page