ARMIDALE trainer Lea Selby ended a long run of outs when tough old gelding Set to Prophet – affectionately known as Moses – won the September 6 Moree Cup BM-58 Handicap at Moree on Tuesday.

Selby, whose last winner was the aptly-named Invincible Faith at Deepwater back in January, went within a long-head of landing a double on Tuesday when race leader Zou Big Boy was collared right on the line by Lou Mary’s Off the Scale two races earlier.

“We haven’t won for a while, and went close to getting two winners,” Selby smiled

Set to Prophet ($10), ridden by emerging apprentice Jacob Stiff, notched his seventh win when holding off Paul Wallace’s fast-finishing Power of Success ($3.90) to score by a neck, with Nikki Pollock’s Maralago ($41) three parts of a length away third.

“He’s done good for us,” Selby said.

“We bought him for $5000 a while back, and he’s now won three races for us.

“We call him Moses, because he’s set to prophet, and he’s shown a profit for us, too,” she laughed.

“He’s a good, older horse. We look after him and don’t work him too hard, mainly swimming.

“I love the older horses; I love keeping them well and happy,” she said.

Lea Selby’s Set to Prophet, with apprentice Jacob Stiff up, wins at Moree on Tuesday.

Set to Prophet, a rising eight-year-old, raced on the speed in second spot for most of the race.

“We know he can run home in good time, so if he can get to the lead easily enough, or be there, nothing can beat him,” Selby said.

“He liked the soft going, too – really liked just a little bit of sting out of the ground.”

Selby said there were no immediate plans for the veteran.

“He’s nominated for Grafton and Tamworth, but we’ll see. He’s looked after us, so we’ll look after him,” she said.

Two-kilo claimer Jacob Stiff, apprenticed to Dubbo trainer Michael Mulholland, notched his 45th career win in less than 12 months when Set to Prophet pounced on the profit line.

“He jumped really well,” Stiff said.

“The horse inside us went forward and we were able to sit off it. Set to Prophet has been running well, and just hasn’t really had that much luck lately.

“But he got it today, and kept finding the line,” he said.

Earlier, Selby’s Zou Big Boy was beaten narrowly in the 1600m National Jockeys’ Trust BM-66 Handicap by Off the Scale, ridden by Mikayla Weir.

Off the Scale ($4fav) came from a long way back to score narrowly.

“She has been racing pretty well recently,  and I’ve ridden her previously in another prep. I’m pretty familiar with her,” Weir said.

“She was a bit slow to begin today, so I took cover when I had the opportunity. I got a bit further back than I wanted to be, and had to make my move quite early.

“She was able to sustain the run and go on with it, but she gave all the signs that she’ll get further,” she said.

“I don’t think she would handle it too heavy, but the sting out of the track today was good for her.”

Weir said the Moree circuit was presented beautifully after nearly 100mm of rain fell on the track the previous week.

“The track’s been good. It’s got good footing and good grass cover, and a lot better than some of the tracks I’ve ridden at in the last week,” she said.

Meanwhile, racing in the district continues on Saturday, when Mallawa Picnic Race Club stages round two of bush racing’s Golden Triangle.

The club this week received 51 nominations, including 10 in the Mallawa Cup and nine in the Mallawa Bracelet.

The six-race meeting is again strongly supported, with major sponsors including RDO Equipment Australia, B&W Rural, Nutrien Ag Solutions, Moree Irritek, Aircair Aviation,  Australian Food & Fibre, TitanAg, McGregor Gourlay and Boland Petroleum back for another year.

The track is expected to be presented in perfect order on Saturday after 35mm of rain fell on the course proper last week.

There will be a marquee luncheon as well as the famous Moree Lions Club barbecue and live music after the races are run and won.

Online tickets to the meeting are available HERE.

Buses to Mallawa will also operate to and from the Royal Hotel in Moree from around 11am.

Acceptances for the meeting will be declared at 9am, Thursday, June 4.

Talmoi Picnic Race Club rounds out the Golden Triangle with six races 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

Online tickets for Talmoi: Talmoi Picnic Races TIX