First Cup win caps milestone day for Warzecha

By Jordan Gerrans

After celebrating her maiden Cup victory as the second leg of a winning double, Ravyn Warzecha has set her sights on the upcoming feature Country Stampede series with a newcomer to her barn.

The 29-year-old horsewoman has enjoyed a strong start to the new 2026-27 racing campaign, training a winner at Dalby earlier this month before ticking off two career milestones at Dingo on Saturday.

Panigale won the opening event at the non-TAB Dingo meeting before long-time stable favourite Black 'N' Deadly bookended the program in the $17,000 Dingo Cup.

Warzecha has only been training in her own right for around three years, with Saturday's results delivering her first career double and maiden Cup triumph.

Black 'N' Deadly will always be a special horse to Warzecha after the mare handed her the first victory of her training tenure at Jandowae in May of last year.

“There was just a big crowd and they were all cheering her name,” Warzecha said of the scenes at Dingo on Saturday.

“She's an incredible animal. She's given me a lot of firsts and now she's given me my first Cup win.

“Black 'N' Deadly, she's the matriarch of the stable and we have acquired a couple more young ones, as well.”

Warzecha's Dalby-based stable took five runners to Dingo and walked away with a winning double, as well as two more minor placings in a strong showing for the fledgling team.

To make the occasion even more special, Saturday was also the young trainer’s 29th birthday.

Panigale, who is only a newcomer to the stable, won at her third run for Warzecha after previously being prepared by Jason Morgan in Central Queensland.

Nikki Olzard was in the saddle for Warzecha’s double, as the trainer was keen for the apprentice to ride her runners in the lead-up to the Dingo fixture.

“We were quietly confident going into that race,” the trainer said.

“She was a bit unlucky at Warwick last start and just ran into a wall of horses at the end.

“But, we've only had her, that's her third start for us. She’s a beautiful animal and she just proved that.”

Panigale and Black 'N' Deadly were the winners at Dingo on Saturday, but there may be another horse to follow from the meeting looking into 2026.

Harbour Gold finished second in the Open Plate over 900 metres at Dingo and Warzecha thinks the newcomer to her team can aim for feature honours.

She has earmarked a tilt at the popular Country Stampede series later this year with the gelding, who was previously conditioned by Taryn Churchill and Brett Cavanough.

“He's actually owned by one of my main owners, Peter Gray, and he offered him to me the other week. I've only had him for two starts,” Warzecha said.

“He's run a third and a second. I've seen the name and watched him; I took him in a heartbeat when he was offered to me.

“And, then knowing that I was taking a few horses to Dingo, I wanted him.

“He'll fit in well. He gave me 110 percent on Saturday and he is an absolutely beautiful boy.

“I'm really excited going forward with him. We'll chase probably the Country Stampede with him, I think.”

The eight-time career winner has not won in his last 13 efforts, with his most recent triumph coming at Alpha in June of last year.

Following the Dingo double, Warzecha now has seven victories to her resume and says she is learning every day within the training ranks.

“I think we have got about 15 on the books at the moment, between breakers, two-year-olds and a couple of babies and then obviously the racing ones,” she said.

“So, we've got a good variety. Saluki, she ran second on Saturday, she's a promising little three-year-old. Harbour Gold, obviously.

“I've got a couple of good maideners and a couple of exciting ones coming up. It's not just one horse or one method for every single horse.

“If you could learn every single day because that's how you get better, I'm always learning, and I don't think I ever want to be set in a way; I like to adapt.

“With the likes of Black 'N' Deadly, I have to train her a certain way compared to different horses.

“Everyone’s got their own thing and if someone's willing to help you, definitely take the opportunity.”

Warzecha heads to Ipswich Turf Club on Thursday with Leave No Doubt in the Benchmark 65 over 800 metres, while stablemate Causeways will contest the Colts, Geldings and Entires Ratings Band 0 - 58 Handicap over 1350 metres.

The stable also has runners nominated for Toowoomba and Warra on Saturday.