QUIRINDI trainer Geoff O’Brien and Tamworth jockey Zara Lewis teamed up with quirky mare Akauwheo to win the 1400m B&W Rural-Titan Ag Mallawa Cup at round two of bush racing’s Golden Triangle on Saturday.

O’Brien and Lewis also won the Mallawa Bracelet two years ago with Super Hot, and reunited on Saturday to win the time-honoured cup, first held in 1930.

O’Brien is no stranger to Mallawa Cups. He won the bush feature in 2010 with War on Everything and again six years later with Ellie’s Shadow.

Lewis parked Akauwheo off the speed set by race favourite Shut Eye before allowing the mare more rein in the straight.

“It was a nice win,” Lewis said.

Zara Lewis and Geoff O’Brien with 2026 Mallawa Cup winner Akauwheo.

“She went really good, which I’m really happy about because Geoff’s a lovely fellow – it’s always good to ride winners for trainers like Geoff O’Brien.”

Akauwheo ($4) pounced in the straight to score by more than half-a-length from Connie Greig’s Hemsted ($4), with I’m Scarlett ($4.40), stablemate to the runner-up, a long-neck away third.

Early leader Shut Eye ($3fav) held ground to finish fourth.

Lewis said Akauwheo jumped well to put herself in the race.

“She jumped good, but my instructions were to just leave her alone, otherwise she’ll pull really hard,” Lewis said.

“I jumper her out and let her travel under her own steam, and around the back she drifted away from the pack.

“But she quickly improved – she does it herself – and was right behind them until they straightened.

“The gap opened and she went straight through – she was just too good for them,” Lewis said.

O’Brien will now start Akauwheo in the 1400m Talmoi Cup at round three of bush racing’s Golden Triangle on June 20.

Zara Lewis guides Akauwheo to an easy win in the 2026 Mallawa Cup from Connie Greig’s stablemates Hemsted and I’m Scarlett.

The trainer won three races at Garah last year with Akauwheo, Tandem and Super Hot, with Lewis saluting on Tandem and Super Hot.

“The horse will go to Talmoi and Zara rode her nicely today,” O’Brien said.

“She gave the mare a bit of time to fall out and fall back, and find her legs. If she takes off too early, she’s hard to hold and has nothing at the finish.

“I told Zara to leave her alone until the 800m and then ask her for an effort – she rode the mare beautifully,” he said.

Talmoi Picnic Race Club rounds out bush racing’s Golden Triangle with six races at Garah on June 20.

The meeting, with online tickets available HERE, features the 1400m Talmoi Cup and 1000m Talmoi Bracelet.

Raceday highlights include a catered lunch and fashions-on-the-field as well as live entertainment and a big screen to watch local, provincial and metropolitan races.

Sponsors include B&W Rural, Kenway and Clark, Syngenta, Black Truck and Ag, TTS, Providore Global, RDO Equipment, BMC Partnerships, AFF and Orica.

Nominations for the six-race card close at 11am, Monday, June 15.

Bush Racing’s Golden Triangle

Talmoi: Saturday, June 20.

Online tickets for Talmoi: Talmoi Picnic Races TIX

Updates: Talmoi Facebook Page