Trainer Dean Mirfin is preparing for another strong showing after his recent success at Bathurst, where he secured two wins and a close second in a highly competitive meeting. Mirfin’s stable achieved a memorable result at Bathurst last Sunday week, with two horses crossing the finish line almost simultaneously in the $110,000 Panorama and another claiming victory in the Bathurst Cup.

At Bathurst, Mirfin’s horses Ishikara and Tom Vegas finished first and second in the Panorama, while Michelangelo, noted for having competed in the Champagne Stakes and Queensland Derby, won the Bathurst Cup. The $22,000 first prize for the Bathurst Cup was outweighed by the significance of maintaining local dominance and the valuable qualification for upcoming marquee races at Royal Randwick on November 3.

“The horses are all lightly raced into their preparations so far,” Mirfin said, indicating that the recent races are building blocks toward more significant targets, including The Big Dance and The Little Dance at Randwick. He noted Michelangelo’s flexibility for entering either feature event while Ishikara remains a contender for the Kosciuszko Stakes, although she was not nominated initially. Mirfin suggested the possibility of targeting The Barn Dance for Ishikara if no immediate Kosciuszko spot becomes available.

Looking ahead, Mirfin’s focus shifts to his stable’s next entrants, Inyun and Jolly Good Fellow, who are set to compete at Narromine early next week. Inyun, a mare by Yulong Prince—winner of Group 1 races in South Africa and Australia—will resume racing in the Dolly Parton Festival’s Class 1 Handicap over 1200 meters on October 10. Despite drawing a wide barrier, Mirfin remains optimistic, emphasizing the mare’s racing style and ability to settle towards the back of the field, suggesting that race positioning will be key.

Jolly Good Fellow is aimed at the Dandy Cup Ladies Day event, a Country Boosted Benchmark 66 Handicap (1300m) scheduled for October 17 at Narromine. Mirfin has secured a jockey for the race but is still assessing whether to run there or hold over for a suitable set-weights plate at Dubbo a week later. He described Jolly Good Fellow as physically strong and progressing through his preparation, though potentially needing this upcoming run to reach peak form.

Mirfin’s immediate plans highlight the balancing act of managing his horses' racing schedules to optimize their performance for the season’s major regional and metropolitan races. With the lead-up to Royal Randwick’s November 3 carnivals approaching, Mirfin’s stable is positioning itself to remain competitive on multiple fronts.