Comedic sports commentator and 1970s Test cricketer Kerry O’Keefe was all smiles - and even let out his trademark chuckle - after the horse he co-owns with local breeder David Ringland, "Gallant Star", bolted home to win the Western Racing Associations Country Championship Qualifier on Sunday.

The former Australian leg-spinner is no stranger to Coonamble, having been out to the track for last year’s Qualifier and also as an amazingly well-received guest speaker for the Western Education fundraising dinner last year.

“Brett Robb is one of the best trainers in the business," "Skull" enthused.

"His preparation for today’s race was impeccable, and it was no surprise that he picked-up the trifecta as well as the fifth-placed horse in the Qualifier,” O'Keefe added.

Robb himself had predicted the trifecta in the correct order pre-race. 

“I know Gallant will win and I reckon 'Rouge Moulon' and 'Poison Point' are specials to fill the minor placings. If pushed, my fourth horse, 'Deion' could squeak in, but the Coonamble horse, 'Plenitude', trained by my mate, Clint Lundholm, is a hot chance as well,” Robb forecast.

As it turned out, his first two horses are now setting for the $1 million Country Championship Final on Saturday, April 5, with Gallant Star sweeping-in as favourite after Sydney hoop, Jason Collett, drove to the lead early-on and was never headed.

In other news from Coonamble, former Gular jockey and trainer, Cody Netor, who scored in the Dubbo Gold Cup with his horse, "Sneak Preview" late last year, greeted the judges three times in the first four races with "Tainui" (for Geoff O’Brien), "Tiye" (for great mate, Clint Lundholm), and the well-priced "The Great Armada" for Jane Clement.