The voice of the late great sporting commentator Norman May was certainly reminisced last Sunday afternoon when Dubbo pacer, Koloura Gold took out his third consecutive win in as many race meetings at the Parkes Paceway.
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It was gold, gold, gold that the Bruce McKinnon trained and driven gelding was chasing as he stepped up in distance (1660m to 2040m) in the Ag & Vet Pace.
But it made little difference to Koloura Gold ($2.50) who bounced to the front and was never headed, recording a smart 2.01.4 for the longer journey to complete his hat-trick of wins.
It was obvious in the run that McKinnon was not concerned by the additional 400 metres as he gave those chasing him every opportunity to run him down but it was not to be.
In the end, Koloura Gold had four metres to spare over his nearest rival, Poppy Cee ($9, Andrew Cassell) which flew home after being buried back on the pegs.
Cassell had trouble finding clear racing room with Poppy Cee and he may have finished closer with a touch more luck.
The Wifes Calling ($5, Murray Sullivan) was dragged back to near last after the start before making a searching three wide run from the bell, staying on well for third although beaten by seven and a half metres.
Dubbo horsemen had a good afternoon which started on the right note with the Brett Pay trained and Madison Reynolds driven Remember Kaiser ($2.50) leading for a greater part of the Trundle Services & Citizens Club Pace (2040m).
Reynolds had a minor fight on his hands at the start when pole marker We Could Be Lucky (Tony Beath) was fastest out.
But Beath surrendered, allowing Remember Kaiser to roll to the top and from there he was rated to perfection.
Runner-up, Oscar Jay ($2.30, Murray Sullivan) raced without cover and applied pressure halfway down the back straight which turned the race into a two horse war until the closing stages when Remember Kaiser gained the upper hand to score by a metre.
Eleanor Shannon ($2.50, Max Hughes) chased them home to finish third, a further nine metres in arrears.
Forbes reinsman, Jason Gaffney brought up the first of a winning double when he combined with the Terry Hush trained Digger Shed ($5) to take out the Bob & June Stephenson Memorial (2040m).
Gaffney was able to bounce the gelding straight to the front.
From there he controlled the speed and the race, setting even quarters and leaving enough in reserve for Digger Shed to hold on to score by a half neck.
Outsider, Always Lucky ($21, Jason Large) sat back at the tail of the field before rattling home after coming right to the outside of the track at the 400 to just miss.
Odds on favourite Karinya Jay Jay ($1.80, Gary Eyre) began well but then took the one-one trail which didn’t really help her as Eyre had to make his move at the 600 metres mark to avoid being pocketed.
She battled on to the line finishing third, three metres from the winner.
It was a race to race double for Gaffney as he scored his second victory aboard Blissfully Fake ($3) in the Trundle Hotel Competitive Stakes (1660m).
The win was in complete contrast as Gaffney took the mare right back to near last after the start and bided his time there until coming with a powerful burst with 500 metres to run.
Blissfully Fake went on with the job to score by three metres over Peggyville ($6, Steve Dowton) which ran the gate to lead but could not withstand the winner’s finishing burst.
Taylor Shannon ($5, Murray Sullivan) sat off the pace and finished third after appearing to have every chance.
The win by Junes Legacy ($3) in the Henry McDermott Memorial 3yo (1660m) was very fitting given that she was wearing the colours of the late Bob Stephenson, a former stalwart of the Trundle trotting fraternity.
Like the late Henry McDermott, the Stephenson name was prominent in the sport in the western area of New South Wales.
Sunday’s meeting was dedicated to the history and great memories of the Trundle community in harness racing.
Trained at Wyalong by Jeremy Lamb and raced by Debbie and Robert Stephenson from Trundle, Junes Legacy was taken back at the start by Lamb before gaining a trail home with 600 metres to travel.
The filly tracked into the race nicely before moving wider when the field swung for home.
She sprinted fast to score, running away by two and a half metres.
Nevada Shannon ($5, Murray Sullivan) went ahead of the winner and was brave in defeat.
Third placed Karinya Rocket ($3, Gary Eyre) was having its first race start and showed blinding speed to lead.
It was worried all the way and did well to hold on to the minor placing.
Cowra’s Monique Parsons and her partner Shannon Rye are regular supporters at Parkes and they were rewarded for that by scoring a good win with Siobhan Shannon ($5) in the Kevin Daley & Jim Mudge Memorial (1660m).
Monique, who also trains the mare, gave her every chance after securing the one out-one back trail.
She was able to bide her time until they rounded the final circle where Siobhan Shannon sprinted strongly to go on and record a sound victory.
Runner-up Kenny Trickem ($2.50, Mark Hewitt) raced without cover and was simply out-sprinted in the run to the line.
Wah Sui Lady ($5, Madison Reynolds) came from the back half of the field with an eye catching run to finish third.
Tough Cowra pacer Fantasy Level ($3) finally found his way back into the winner’s circle in the Harris Family Competitive Stakes (1660m) after a 12 run drought.
The Darryl Davis trained and driven pacer has promised much more than his five career wins will attest, but his effort on Sunday was very good.
Davis had to do some work on him to lead but he took up the running shortly after the start and that was virtually the end of the section.
He held on strongly to win by three metres while the placegetters Reign Blue Chip ($6, Steve Dowton) and Pullabooka Princess ($3, Mark Hewitt) both came from back in the field and off the pegs.
Racing will not return to Parkes for almost 10 weeks (Saturday twilight meeting on May 9) with the focus turning to Bathurst and Dubbo over the next two months.