Having been involved in harness racing for more years than he can remember, the quietly spoken owner, trainer and free lance driver showed all his talents in getting Waterbug over the line in a narrow but convincing win. 

Sent out at a $13.20 chance, the five-year-old daughter of the USA imported stallion Barnett Hanover recorded her first win from 26 starts defeating Sure What Ever ($12.30) the winning margin being a nose with the West Wyalong-trained Confederate Girl claiming third prize for Rodney Crowe. 

The winner is from the New Zealand bred mare Show Mercy who also produced the Troublemaker mare She’s Royalty who earned in excess of $288 in her racing career and a fastest winning mile rate of 1:58.1. lets now hope that the door has finally opened for the mare who had her first start as a three-year-old at Cowra in March 2013. 

Race one on the program resulted in an all-the-way win for the Bathurst-trained Mod Conns for John O’Shea. 

Starting from the pole position, Mod Conns ($11) was allowed to dictate the pace with even quarters throughout before a 30 second final section resulted in the daughter of Modern Art posting a mile rate of 2.00.1 and a convincing winning margin over the more favoured Canberra-trained Monivae ($2.50) who resuming since finishing unplaced at Menangle in June last year. 

Regular visitor to the Young track Bernie Hewitt opened his account for the night in race two when last start Parkes winner Mammals Maker ($9.60) proved that her last win was no fluke with a fast finishing burst to defeat the well supported back marker Mattjestic Star ($3.60) who looked all over a winner with 50 metre to travel while the pacemaker in the race, Gun Smoke Shannon, ($10.30) failed to hold off the challenges and finished a close third, the mile rate again respectable at 2:00.3. 

Barrier one was again to favour a noted front runner with Corey Bell taking the Shaun Snudden trained Riverboat King five-year-old mare Upsey Daisy ($5.40) straight to the lead and set up a couple of final quarters of 28.4 and 29.1 respectively to produce a nine metre winning margin over Scots Legacy ($4.10) for John O’Shea with Precious M ($9.50) taking home third prize for Steve and Mitch Turnbull. 

Favourite in the race Holy Camp Girl ($3.10) did get back in her race early striking traffic on the turn to finish third but certainly not disgraced. 

Taralga trainer Patrick Bourke secured the services of Daniel Rowell to help encourage the four-year-old Grinfromeartoear pacer Hard To Hear ($5.40) to produce his best form, and so he did. 

Starting from gate one and securing a nice sit behind the leader and eventual second place getter Fairy Dust ($7.20) the win was a great return to form for the pacer who won his last win on this very same track in July last year rating 1:59.4 when driven by Scott Hewitt. 

Bernie Hewitt again produced a polished drive in race five when the Aces And Sevens gelding Katsidis ($5.60) came from a perfect position to run down favourite The Matrix ($1.70) who was given every chance by Nathan Hurst with Forty Seven Tricks ($12.60) who had raced at Wagga the previous week running on well for a creditable third.

The winner recorded a narrow neck win and returned to the winners circle for the first time since taking out a similar race, albeit over a shorter distance, at Bathurst in February 2014. 

The elusive “Hat Trick” of wins came for Bernie Hewitt in race seven when he once again drove a copy book race behind Onajoyride ($6.10). 

The five-year-old mare returned to the winners circle for the first time since May 2014 and would have given her breeders, Ray, Anne and Neil Grubb a great sense of satisfaction breeding the winner now of eight races from their good mare New York Express. 

Gallant in defeat was the Chris Hughes-trained Devils Dust ($2.70) driven by Stephen Maguire while Canberra reinsman Scott Osmond gave pole marker and pace maker Claire Elizabeth ($3.80) every chance to atone from her last start second at Canberra last week, leading throughout before capitulating in the straight to finish third. 

The Tamworth experience continued for Nathan Hurst when another pole marker, Flight Express ($4.10) led throughout in defeating the fast finishing Village Witch ($7.40) and Diesel Shannon ($9.80) in the final race of the night. 

The Flightpath gelding returned to the winners podium for the first time since taking out a similar race, from the same starting gate, at Parkes on June 28, 2014 and the win would give owner Anne Lamb a great boost. 

Certainly another top night of racing with the win of the locally-trained Waterbug, combined with the treble by Bernie Hewitt, none of the three starting favourite, two of which defeated the more fancied runner, and wins by John O’Shea, Daniel Rowell, Corey Bell making it once again an enjoyable night for everyone. 

Racing returns to Young on Carnival Of Cups night on Saturday, March 14 with the feature race to carry $40,600 in prize money for the C6 or better class pacers over the 2480 metre journey. Hope to see you there.