MISHANI Istana may head to Inverell for a New Year’s Day “mile” after the mare won Wednesday’s White Hart Hotel Murrurundi Cup (2000m) at Quirindi.
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The Stephen Dixon-trained six-year-old daughter of Oratorio was given an arm chair ride by Daniel Northey to slot in behind the two leaders, Whakatane and Stirling Shadow.
Northey then popped Mishani Istana out turning down and around the home bend for home but had to work hard to beat Robert Knight’s Whakatane by a half-length.
Sally Torrens’ Stirling Shadow was a length and three quarters away third.
“She will back up,” said Stephen Dixon of a 1600m benchmark 66 handicap he has nominated her for at next Tuesday’s Inverell Cup meeting.
There were 12 nominations for that race with the deadline extended until 11am on Thursday.
“She’s back to a mile up there,” Dixon added.
“She had it pretty easy today.”
Northey agreed.
The 28-year-old is relishing his return to the saddle in recent months after an horrific fall during trackwork at Scone shattered his pelvis and severed his bladder.
Northey was hurt when a horse he was jumping out of the barrier reared up and came down on top of him.
He was airlifted to Newcastle's John Hunter Hospital; but was out of action for more than a year.
“It’s been pretty good,” he said of his past few months.
“Good to be back.”
The Murrurundi Cup win was his second race victory in the HNWRA since his fall.
