With a seven race program set down for decision and fine weather prevailing, the stage was set for what was to be another top day of racing on a perfectly prepared track. 

The opening race of the day was run over the testing 2100 metre journey and the Shaun Snudden-trained Lombo Pocket Watch grey mare Coonah Parade was sent out a $5.10 and landed the money albeit by a narrow margin from Polished Rocks ($2.30) for Amanda Turnbull and Alittle Bit Frosty ($3.10) driven by Charlie Martin for Yanco trainer Kim Hillier.

The winning margin being only a nose in favour of the winner who is from the Getting It Right mare Bovalai, being bred by Canberra couple Frank and Sue O’Sullivan, the mare now having recorded four wins from 17 starts, her previous win being on this same track on August 22 over the shorter 1720 metre journey. 

The mile rate of 2:01.3 with two final quarters of 29.6 and 29.7 respectively was a good run home for the winner who had taken the position as pace maker and leading at the bell in a solidly run race. 

Amanda Turnbull made amends in race two when the Western Edition-Has The Art four-year-old mare Monicas Magic ($2) finished strongly, after being fourth at the bell, in defeating Rock Albert ($15.20) and To Infinitynbeyond ($5.90). 

The winner had recorded her last win at Bathurst on July 16 and trainer Steve Turnbull would have been pleased with the mare’s effort after being forced to make the run home four wide at the 300. 

The final quarter of 30.0 and a mile rating of 2:02.0 was a vast improvement on her previous winning time. 

Connections could hardly hide their emotions in race three when the Jet Laag mare Lucky Laag ($3.40) held off a strong challenge from the Flightpath first starter Zirconia ($10.30) for Bernie Hewitt and the locally-trained If You Can ($14.70). 

After leading for most of the 2100 metre journey, driver Matt Rue set a mediocre pace with only the final quarter of 29.5 putting any real pace into the race. The mile rating of 2:04.9 was probably not a real indication of the excitement that resulted in the win, stable representatives certainly overwhelmed with the result. 

Her last win was over 12 months ago at Dubbo on August 4, 2013 when driven by Brett Hutchings. 

Narrandera trainer Shaun Snudden struck again in race four when Barriettas Bliss ($3.80) sat outside the leader early to defeat Glenburn Addy ($14.60) for Ray Walker and the consistent Mo Rolling ($4.60) claiming third after being second last at the bell. 

The tempo in race four increased with a 1:59.9 mile rate and a slick 28.7 third quarter before coming home in 29.2. 

The win by the Blissfull Hall five-year-old mare was her second in just over a month following a win at Wagga on August 14 and now sees her with a winning record of four wins and seven placings from 29 starts for her proud owner. 

Steve Turnbull lined up the quinella in race five with Itdontmattertome ($2.10) driven by Mitch Turnbull with McCardles Chance ($5) driven by Amanda Turnbull missing out by six metres with Home In Indiana ($9.70) driven by Bernie Hewitt for trainer Jason Gaffney finishing third. 

Again a creditable mile rate of 1:59.8 and last two quarters of 28.4 and 29.9 with the winner running home well after being second at the bell. 

The first of the two feature races of the day took to the track in race six. A series heat of the AGL TABCORP Menangle Where Horses Fly over 1720 metres had attracted a field of 10 and what a quality field it was. 

Leeton trainer Col Thomas and his long time stable driver Steve Maguire made the long trip over from the Riverina with the classy Courage Under Fire four-year-old Business In Motion ($1.50) and certainly won like an odds on favourite should. 

Taken to the lead  from an awkward outside gate six, the Mirrool driver showed why he is one of the most respected drivers in the country with a polished display of front running control in defeating Modern Era ($8.40) and Power Of Ponder ($20.40) for Steven Harris. 

Resuming since finishing unplaced at Melton on July 5, the now winner of over $130,000 in prizemoney always looked the one to beat and he certainly looked impressive in winning and in doing so posting a 1:59.6 mile rate and two sub 30 sec quarters, the Menangle draw on Saturday hopefully to his benefit. 

The final race of the day again produced fast times and a close finish. A second local heat of the Country Series again had a capacity field in race seven with the Bernie Hewitt trained Trikala sent out favourite ($4.50) in a very open betting race. 

Unfortunately for the Georges Plains trainer, the Steve Turnbull stable struck again with the Christian Cullen mare Vienna Eyre NZ ($6.60) finishing fast over the concluding stages to defeat Tactfull Lady ($13.40) and OK Alright ($5.10) who again ran a nice race under the guidance of Michael Day Jr. 

Driver Amanda Turnbull had Vienna Eyre racing fifth at the bell and circled the field after passing the 400 giving the leaders a big start over the concluding stages of the race, the first quarter was run in 28.0 for the 1720 while the third quarter resulted in a 29.2 and the fastest winning mile rate of the day in 1:58.1.

The Young club will now take a little respite following a hectic winter program of racing before gearing up for the much anticipated $12,000 Young Cherry Festival Cup to be staged on Friday night, November 28.  

A Loyalty Stakes of $8000 and a supporting program of $6000 races will compliment activities being staged over the annual Cherry Festival Carnival.