Despite Gunnedah’s lone Cup contender Sam’s Legacy failing to progress through the heats, it did not stop the region from enjoying success during lesser races across the three-day event.

William Marmara finished in good style with Evie’s Best and Evie’s Magic impressive winners on Monday.

Evie’s Best oozed class on the way to taking home the Coona Bakery Grade 4/5 Stakes (315m).

The brilliant daughter of El Grand Senor stopped the clock in a sharp 17.61 seconds, to seal the 13^th win of her 27-start career.

Evie’s Magic, a littermate of Evie’s Best, looked good in sealing his third career victory from 22 appearances, running 17.98 seconds.

The victories tempered the performance of Sam’s Legacy, who finished seventh in the second Cup heat won by emergency Sharp Songar, who made the most of a late call-up.

Boggabri-based trainer Andrew Bell also had Cup contenders in Sketchy Amber (fourth in heat one) and Lektra Fella (third in heat two).

He also prepared winners on two of the three days of the carnival.

Wait And See bolted in to win a 315m Grade 5 event on Sunday and Chilling Fantasy made a wonderful debut in racing away by 5 ¼ lengths in Monday’s Coona Hotel Maiden (410m).

Chilling Fantasy stopped the clock in 23.85 seconds.

Jamie Bush sealed a winner on Saturday when Takalo Gem got the job done in a 410m Grade 5 event.