After a month of feature race meetings, the Parkes Harness Racing Club settles back into a secondary meeting for its traditional Australia Day (night) fixture.
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While it has been an exciting time for patrons who have seen some very classy horses chasing the riches of the Carnival of Cups, many owners and trainers who support the Parkes Club have had to settle for the minor end of the prize.
The Australia Day meeting has drawn together evenly graded fields which should see some keen contests.
And patrons will enjoy all the fun that this night delivers with the famous Yabby races being a highlight.
On the track, the Keith Thomson Memorial (2040m) is the feature and is a race restricted to horses trained within a 125 kilometre radius of Parkes.
The David Harris trained Max Is Back will be well supported to take out the event following some sound form.
To be driven by David Harris junior, Max Is Back has done all his recent racing at Parkes and third placings behind Midnight Prowler and then Happy Napa stands him in good stead for the Memorial.
Blissfully Fake (Murray Sullivan) joined the Jason Gaffney stable back in December and ran a sound third first up here behind Playful Fella.
She was then gassed at Wagga last week and it would pay to forgive her for that.
Another danger to Max Is Back is Karinya Jay Jay (Gary Eyre) which has been placed at two of her past three outings.
The Western Districts Junior Drivers Invitation (2040m) is the other feature on the program and gives some of our youngsters a chance to compete against those of a similar age.
Todd Prest is a youngster who originates from Yanco and has been very lucky in the draw to secure the drive on the likely favourite Kapow Shannon which will come out of barrier three.
He hasn’t won since October 25 and his past three efforts during January have been below par but he gets into this race nicely and his form during December was very good.
The Matrix (Mitch Hutchings) finished second at Young last Tuesday night beaten a half neck by Katsidis which is something near the form that saw him win four races last season.
Last start winner Ebdon (Blair Hurst) is another runner that has drawn well and should be right in the finish.
Celebrate Australia Day At Parkes Leagues Club will open the program at 6.07pm and Bathurst trainer Peter Bullock has the first of his many strong chances engaged here in the shape of Smack Dab Shannon (Michael Munro).
He followed a very good second at Parkes on Carnival of Cups night with a sound fourth at Bathurst.
He will take some holding out with his main dangers being the Steve Turnbull trained Precious M (Mitch Turnbull) and The Kissing Bandit who is resuming for Dubbo mentor Michael Pay.
Local pacer Poppy Cee (Andrew Cassell) has drawn to lead in the Safe Guy Competitive Stakes (1660m) and the gelding is best suited when he can set the pace.
Cassell will have him humming out of the gate and his win at Parkes on January 7 when he led was quite good.
West Wyalong visitor Coola Bar Boy (Rodney Lemon) has been racing in strong company in the Riverina and was a Wagga winner last start which suggests that he is a real threat.
Forbes mare Home In Indiana (Murray Sullivan) is the third pick but could be hard to hold out if she produces the form that saw her run a great second after coming from last here at Parkes on January 2.
The Wendy Turnbull trained mare Truly Miss Terious (Jason Turnbull) has found a purple patch of form despite not winning since last August.
She has been placed at three of her last four starts with a second at Bankstown her best run.
Scots Legacy (John O’Shea) is trained locally by Terry Powter and is getting close to a win following second placings at Parkes and Young in recent weeks.
Cankickatarget (Brett Hutchings) has been out of sorts since returning home from Sydney but his connections are sure to have addressed his issues and you can expect a forward showing from him.
Parkes is a happy hunting ground for Monteagle trainer David Micallef and his filly Amanda Jay (Nathan Hurst) last won here on August 16.
She is the on top selection in the D & N Produce 3yo Pace (1660m) with the dangers appearing to be Medowie Miss (Jason Turnbull) and first starter Rogue Warrior (Kel Winnell).
Nathan Hurst is fresh back from his annual sojourn to Tamworth where he had good success and he usually gets at least one winner at a Parkes meeting.
Saint Dal Santo appears to be his best chance in the Dwyers Fresh Pace (2040m) after being thereabouts in most of his recent runs.
Quambys Ideal (Mitch Turnbull) ran fourth last start and is a threa while What I Mean To Say and Slick La Jazz also have claims.
Tim McGee was placed twice at Parkes during the New Year Carnival against stronger opposition than he is meeting here and is the one to beat in the Parkes Furniture One Competitive Stakes (1660m).
The dangers include Bella Cruise, Remy Bressant and Hollywood Glitter.
Selections:
Race 1: 1.Smack Dab Shannon 2.Precious M 3.The Kissing Bandit.
Race 2: 1.Poppy Cee 2.Coola Bar Boy 3.Home In Indiana.
Race 3: 1.Truly Miss Terious 2.Scots Legacy 3.Cankickatarget.
Race 4: 1.Kapow Shannon 2.The Matrix 3.Ebdon.
Race 5: 1.Max Is Back 2.Blissfully Fake 3.Karinya Jay Jay.
Race 6: 1.Amanda Jay 2.Medowie Miss 3.Rogue Warrior.
Race 7: 1.Saint Dal Santo 2.Quambys Ideal 3.What I Mean To Say.
Race 8: 1.Tim McGee 2.Remy Bressant 3.Hollywood Glitter.