Mayor's mare hammers bookies Four-year-old mare Fallon Street is proving a nightmare for bookmakers. Owned by Lillian Brady, the mayor of Cobar for more than 30 years and trained by Rodney Robb at Nyngan, Fallon Street landed yet another plunge when she led all the way to win at Coonamble on Monday. Ridden by apprentice Joe Saiki, indentured to Brett Thompson at Mudgee, Fallon Street beat The Brown One and Elsalinda starting at $10. The mare was well backed at longer prices on course and heavily supported with other betting agencies. Fallon Street made her debut for Robb at Trangie picnics in late December landing a substantial betting plunge after firming into $2.80 favourite. One punter was witnessed collecting wads of cash from bookmakers after the success and again "buttered up" at Coonamble. While Catbird (1999) remains the only winner of the Black Opal Stakes-Golden Slipper double, Sunday's $250,000 feature in Canberra has proven a good guide. Former Black Opal winners Blazing Saddles (1977), Just Blooming (1986), Comely Girl (1988), Clan O'Sullivan (1992), St Covet (1994), Paint (1996) and Decision Time (2011) have all gone on to place in the Golden Slipper. This year's field has drawn a mix of metropolitan- and country-trained juveniles and, as always, will be keenly contested. At Corowa, the $30,000 Corowa Cup (1600m) looks an even affair; Wagga-trained Who's Paying is the early $5 favourite. Australia's most prolific jockey, Robert Thompson, will ride at the $725,000 Albury Gold Cup carnival for the first time in his illustrious career. Thompson has won just shy of 3850 winners. It's my first time riding at Albury. I'm looking forward to it," the 50-plus master horseman said. The two-day carnival kicks off on Thursday, March 21 followed by cup day on March 22 featuring the $170,000 Albury Gold Cup (2000m). Thompson's longevity in the saddle hasn't dented his enthusiasm. I still love riding. I've got to have a job, haven't I?" he laughed tongue in cheek. Thompson (81 wins from 459 rides) is sixth on the national jockeys' premiership behind Dean Yendall (103). Moruya trainer Luke Pepper and his partner Colby Hill are moving to Kembla Grange. Bathurst trainer Sarah Murray-Leslie has decided to shift base to Goulburn and Peter W. Stanley is moving from Orange to Bathurst. Pepper has enjoyed great success with the likes of Quichang and Ilringya since branching out solo. And two Queensland apprentices - Sairyn Fawke and Jordan Grob - hope to make their mark in NSW. TAB meetings: Sunday - Canberra, Corowa. Monday - Orange. Tuesday - Muswellbrook, Coffs Harbour. Friday - Goulburn, Port Macquarie. Saturday - Broken Hill, Scone.