Pleasant weather conditions and a strong crowd contributed to an enjoyable night of harness racing at the Parkes Paceway last Thursday night.
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And it was the Bathurst trainers and horses that dominated with five of the eight races being taken out by them.
Trainer Bernie Hewitt landed a winning double with his first winner, Joannie Pony ($2.90 favourite) scoring a comfortable win in the Darriwell Stud Pace (1660m) with Riverina driver Steve Maguire in the gig.
Maguire settled Joannie Pony behind the leader in a very fast run race which saw the pacemaker, Burra Sullivan (Nathan Townsend) reel off slick quarters after being attacked.
Joannie Pony moved into the clear at the top of the straight and mowed the leaders down to score by one and a half metres in a 1.57.5 mile rating.
Tulhurst Courage ($7.50, Nathan Hurst) made a move from midfield at the 600 and looked a winning chance when he hit the lead on the home turn.
But he had to settle for second six metres ahead of a very gallant Burra Sullivan ($6.60).
Hewitt was on board his second winner, Regal Point ($9.40) in the Harris Family 3yo Pace (1660m).
Odds-on favourite for the race, Fivehundredfortwo ($1.90) was able to circle the field and find the top with driver Leigh Sutton setting an even tempo.
It appeared as though the popular elect was holding her rivals until halfway down the straight when she drifted away from the inside, allowing Regal Point who had never left the pegs at any stage in the race to charge through and take the prize by almost three metres.
Fivehundredfortwo held on for second while first starter, Nolabest ($9.50, John O’Shea) ran third after leading early and then taking a sit.
Forbes horseman, Murray Sullivan took the driving honours by landing a winning double on Thursday night.
He combined with trainer Terry Hush to win the Bill and Linda Taylor Pace (1660m) aboard the roughie Chief Fairman which started at the juicy odds of $27.50.
The gelding showed plenty of gate speed and Sullivan was happy to keep punching through despite forward charges by Emma Turnbull on Likeallofus ($3.60) and Steve Maguire aboard favourite Rafferty Delights ($2.20).
At different stages over the last 800 metres, both Chief Fairman and Likeallofus had the lead but in the end it was a case of survival of the fittest and Sullivan got every inch out of Chief Fairman to prevail by three and a half metres.
Im No Lady ($6.60, Casey Williams) was sitting right on the pace for the entire trip and chased like a greyhound to finish third, almost six metres from the winner.
Sullivan’s drive on his second winner, Loch Lochy ($1.90) in the Les & Millie Whatling Memorial Competitive Stakes (1660m) was in complete contrast to his first.
Despite being on the short priced favourite, Murray sat and sat until the field was well into the back straight. Loch Lochy then unleashed a scintillating sprint four and five wide rounding the home turn, and zoomed down the outside to score running away by just under three metres.
Dinks Romar ($12.30, Garry Edwards) raced in the death chair and was very strong in defeat while Battleliner ($25.80, David Harris) who went ahead of the winner at the 400 ran third.
Truly Miss Terious ($3.40 favourite) continued the good run of success for the Wendy Turnbull stable when the mare proved too smart for her rivals in the Trundle
Services & Citizens Club Pace (2040m).
Driven a treat by Jason Turnbull, Truly Miss Terious travelled sweetly, one out and one back until the field left the back.
She sprinted quickly to join the lead and go on with it in the run to the line to score by one and three quarter metres over Famous Fella ($4.60, Bernie Hewitt) which had led early and then got caught up in traffic before charging home.
Aurora Scott ($7.70, Mitch Turnbull) also jumped out of the ground over the concluding stages to run third and may have been a touch unlucky.
A heady front running drive from Nathan Hurst saw Flight Express ($13.60) record an all the way win in the Bob & June Stephenson Memorial 3yo Pace (2040m).
While the opposition were chopping and changing behind him, Hurst was doing his own thing in front and Flight Express held on strongly to record a hollow win.
Runner up Oscar Jay ($10.00, Nathan Carroll) came from last over the concluding stages and could have made things interesting had he been closer to the action.
It was a similar case for the third placed runner, Polished Rocks which broke just after the start and then took peg runs to make up the lost ground.
The Steve Turnbull trained Bellas Choice ($5.70, John O’Shea) won a rough house Kevin Daley & Jimmy Mudge Memorial 2yo Pace (1660m), missing all the trouble after landing behind the leader.
Many of the runners either galloped themselves or were inconvenienced by others and this certainly aided those up near the lead.
Bellas Choice peeled off at the turn and went on to score by seven metres over Beau Studleigh ($22.00) whose driver Jake Davis did a great job to weave his way through the carnage and get home in one piece.
Angel Eyes Denise ($2.80, Mitch Turnbull) led and there were few excuses for the favourite as she only plodded to the line to hold on for third.
Despite taking out the final event on the program, the Trundle AG N Vet Pace (2040m) with Lifes Bubbly ($2.60 favourite), trainer Shaun Snudden would have had his heart in his mouth after the mare went off stride with 1300 metres to run when leading.
Driver Leigh Sutton used all his skill to get the mare back down and pacing and she was able to retain the lead and then set a moderate pace from that point on.
This ensured that she had enough petrol left in the tank to race clear for a sound win over Smooth Grin ($2.70, Mitch Turnbull) and Waikare Madonna ($43.20, Garry Edwards) both of whom raced off the pace and on the pegs.
Harness Racing will return to Parkes on May 17, when the Western District Championship Final will be the feature event.
Footnote: The Parkes Harness Racing Club is calling a special meeting to be held at the Parkes Leagues Club at 7pm next Monday, April 28, to discuss the future rules for the use and maintenance of the facilities at the Showground.
All track users are urged to attend.