SCRAPPING the 1400m class 2 handicap at Talmoi picnic races because of insufficient numbers at acceptance time was a blessing in disguise for Inverell trainer Ridge Wilson when More Cash grabbed a narrow win in the 1400m AFF Warren and Ruth Hunter Memorial Talmoi Picnic Cup at round three of bush racing’s Golden Triangle on Saturday.

Wilson on Thursday accepted with More Cash in the easier race, but a surprising lack of numbers saw Saturday’s six-race card reduced to five events when fields were finalised.

“That is exactly the race we planned to start More Cash in to keep him in his grade,” Wilson said.

Stepping More Cash up significantly in grade and back in distance proved the least of Wilson’s worries when lanky Kembla Grange hoop Dylan Parrot – having his first look at the tricky Talmoi track on Saturday – guided the gelding to a narrow win.

More Cash ($4) raced on the speed to score by a long-neck from Connie Greig’s stablemates I’m Scarlett ($3.50) and Hemsted ($3.50).

More Cash (outside) and Dylan Parrot tough out the 1400m AFF Warren and Ruth Hunter Memorial Talmoi Picnic Cup from I’m Scarlett at Garah on Saturday.

“What really appealed to me about starting him in the cup was the fact he was given only 65.5kg – some horses have been copping a lot of weight at the picnics,” Wilson said.

Parrot parked More Cash outside the leaders to make a line of three before taking control of the race at the top of the straight.

“I was a bit worried when he got caught three-deep around the back,” Wilson said.

“He’s a mile horse and was up there. Also, we didn’t know how he’d go on the dirt – we were a little bit concerned – but he just toughed it out.”

Parrot, who travelled from Kembla Grange south of Sydney to ride at Talmoi, was having his second ride for Wilson.

“Dylan had one ride for me before Talmoi on Lesgo Don at Moree picnics, where we didn’t have much luck,” Wilson said.

Dylan Parrot brings AFF Warren and Ruth Hunter Memorial Talmoi Picnic Cup winner More Cash back to scale on Saturday.

Parrot has been riding trackwork at Kembla Grange for about five years, with this year’s Golden Triangle carnival his first trip to the north-west.

He had four rides at Moree picnics last month and a full book at Talmoi, with More Cash giving him his first win on the Triangle.

“We jumped a bit awkwardly, not as nice as I wanted, but we managed to muster speed and find a spot two off the fence just outside the leaders – there were three of us together,” Parrot said.

“I knew coming back in distance meant some of the others would be a bit sharper than my horse.

“I had to let him find his momentum and let him work into the race. He was able to do that and we managed to get our own rhythm in front.

“Not everything went our way, but we managed to find a bit of luck and get the win.

“A big thanks goes to Ridge. This is the second time I’ve ridden for him. We were a bit unlucky at Moree, so it was good to repay the favour and get the win today,” he said.

Meanwhile, Quirindi trainer Geoff O’Brien and Tamworth jockey Zara Lewis last year won two races at Talmoi – and they teamed up on Saturday for an encore performance with Underverse and Redline.

Underverse ($1.60fav) narrowly won the 1000m BMC-RDO WB Newcomen Maiden Plate from Culgoa Kate ($6) and C’mon Donkey ($6), then 40 minutes later Redline ($4) charged home to win the 800m IOR-Toowoomba Truck Spares HT Siddins Memorial Class 3 Handicap by more than a length from Beaunified ($2.30fav) and You Count ($4.40).

Bush racing in the north-west now heads to the Queensland border, with the ever-popular Mungindi Cup meeting scheduled for Saturday, July 4.

The six-race card, headlined by the $14,000 Mungindi Cup (1400m), also features a 1200m BM-50 handicap, 1000m BM-45 handicap, 1400m class 1 handicap, and two maiden plates over 1000m and 1200m.

Supporting races are each worth $12,000.

Nominations for the meeting close at 11am next Monday, June 29.