On a beautiful spring afternoon at Parkes last Sunday, Forbes horseman Murray Sullivan showed all the skills that he has learnt from a number of opportunities he has had throughout the eastern seaboard over the past eight years.
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Arguably the best reinsman west of Bathurst, Sullivan simply out drove his rivals to land a winning treble.
It took until race three for him to find the winner’s circle but he kicked off his winning sequence in style when Montana Maestro ($1.50) led throughout to score by more than 22 metres in the Good Luck Today Parkes Spacemen Pace (2040m).
Wearing the stripe of the local first grade Rugby League team, the win by the Forbes pacer could not have been more fitting but it may have ruffled the feathers of the neighbouring Magpies who in the main are arch rivals to the Spacemen.
Despite beginning fast from barrier one, Montana Maestro was almost crossed but with the advantage of the inside, Sullivan showed plenty of aggression to retain the lead and it always appeared as though they had the opposition covered.
The four year old kicked away at the 400, quickly putting a gap between himself and nearest rival What I Mean To Say (Jason Turnbull) which had the cold sit on him but had to settle for second placing while Saint Dal Santo (Nathan Hurst) chased through along the pegs to grab third, a long way from the winner.
It was a similar circumstance in the Footy Colours Day Pace (2040m) when Home In Indiana ($2.60) with a wing on every hoof cleared the runners on her inside to lead.
Sullivan was taking no prisoners as he carved out slick quarters over the final 1200 metres, sizzling down the back in 28.2 and skipping his mare well clear.
Although she was under siege in the run to the line, Home In Indiana dug deep and found plenty to record a gutsy three metre victory.
Zenitra Shannon (Mick Munro) sat three back along the pegs and emerged out of the pack to rattle home for second while Tulhurst Candy (Angela Hedges) was given every chance after having a nice trip throughout and appearing a real threat on the turn before wilting into third, five metres in arrears.
Home In Indiana completed winning doubles from Sullivan, trainer Jason Gaffney and owner Warwick Edgerton who are all wonderful supporters of the Parkes Club.
The afternoon only got better for Sullivan when he partnered Battleliner ($1.40) to take out the K & H Earthmoving & Haulage Encouragement Stakes (1660m).
With only five opponents to beat, Sullivan was happy to settle the gelding at the tail of the field and with 600 metres to run, he was off three wide.
He quickly put the issue beyond doubt as Battleliner slipped into another gear, leaving the back where he raced well clear and crossed the line with 20 metres to spare.
Sweet River (Darryle Rusten) sat one out and one back before attempting to latch onto the back of the winner but it was to no avail.
He slogged away to hold down second, narrowly ahead of Proceedwithcaution (Andrew Cassell) which sat behind the leader throughout.
Ageing mare, Haresa Winner ($16.60) was rated to perfection by Nathan Hoy, leading by a clear margin throughout to claim the Col Fletcher Ford Pace (2040m).
Hoy got on his bike down the back and although his mare was shortening stride over the final 100 metres, she held too many guns for her rivals to score by almost five metres.
Odds on favourite Chief Fairman (Murray Sullivan) didn’t show any early speed and was back near last until he circled the field with 1200 metres to run.
He raced without cover from that point on and, while he tried hard, never looked like getting on terms with the winner.
He had to be content with finishing second.
Somart (Monique Parsons) was buried back near last on the pegs and got out on the home turn to finish the race off well in third.
Team Hurst got their customary winner at Parkes when Tulhurst Paddy ($1.60) scored the narrowest of victories in the Parkes Leagues Club Pace (1660m).
Blair Hurst took the reins behind the four year old and allowed him to settle before charging forward to sit at the leader’s wheel in a slowly run race.
Pacemaker Reno Shannon (Michael Munro) led with ease and wasn’t pressured until after the bell when he and Tulhurst Paddy went stride for stride all the way down to the wire with only and short half head separating them.
Truly Red (Jason Turnbull) travelled in behind the leaders and got to the line stoutly to finish third when he got clear.
The first attempt at running the Parkes Mensland Pace (1660m) saw carnage on the first turn with Bathurst drivers Max Hughes and Jason Turnbull taking nasty tumbles from the gig.
Stewards called the race off and after a long delay which saw both drivers transported to hospital, the race was re-run, surprisingly with all horses taking part.
The race provided the most impressive winner of the afternoon when Miss Negativity ($6.70) produced a tough effort to win.
Driver Steve Dowton had a crack for the lead after almost a lap and it seemed as though she would cross pacemaker Lady Royal Tee (Andrew Cassell) but wasn’t able to do so.
The pair ran the first half of the last mile in 58.4 seconds which had most on course thinking that they would both be a spent force.
But Miss Negativity proved that she had plenty of bottom as she raced to the lead on the final turn and held off all the challengers to score by one and a quarter metres.
Benditlikebetty (Glenn Wilmott) was back near last before gaining a split through the middle of the pack to sneak into second while Tulhurst Stacey (Angela Hedges) came wide from the tail and made up a ton of ground to run third.
Max Hughes spent the night in Orange Base Hospital but both he and Jason Turnbull were cleared of any serious injuries.
Harness Racing will return to Parkes on Saturday, October 11.