Winter racing continued at the Young Paceway on Friday afternoon with an eight race program presented to a small but enthusiastic group of supporters.
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Racing opened with a Battlers Stakes, run over 2100 metres with a capacity field of 10 runners facing the starter.
The Steve Turnbull-trained Aceador was sent out a $2.80 favourite but found the locally-trained five-year-old Mantar ($18.70) - who led throughout - well rated by Mat Rue in defeating Turnoffate ($6.90) and Aceador in a close photo, the margin being a head, with a head separating second and third.
The winner is raced on lease by young participant Nicholas Dewar and trained by his grandfather Peter Schiller.
Mantar won a three-year-old race at Cobram in 1:57.1 back in 2013, this being his second win in a career of 44 starts since his racing commenced as a two-year-old on April 15, 2012 at Cranbourne.
Let’s hope the winning continues for both members of the enthusiastic team, with a future in racing expected to continue in the coming years for young Nic.
Race two got favourite investors back on track when the Dennis Picker-trained Onlykidding ($2) enjoyed the perfect sit behind the leader and second placed Think It Through ($3.40) for John Vautin.
Again the margin was a head with Zenitra Shannon ($9.30) filling the minor placing in a race setting a mile rating of 2:01.0.
Forbes trainer Ian Quirk was rewarded for his unlucky second on this track last meeting when Kyalla Stuart ($4.30) finished with a strong run in defeating Riverina Life ($15.30) and The Matrix ($3.60) in race two.
Driven by Scott Hewitt, the five-year-old son of Blissful Hall has now won six races for his owners, his win previously was at Bathurst in early May when driven by Bernie Hewitt.
The mile rating of 1:59.3 was an impressive effort for the gelding who has now faced the starter on 28 times this season.
Another eye-catching performance was handed in by the Murringo-trained Courage Under Fire three-year-old Afamilyaffair ($2.20) for owner driver Nathan Hoy in race four.
The filly has now won three from four in a short but spectacular career, a winning mile rate of 1:59.8 with two identical last two quarters of 29.6.
Polemarker Waratah Beach ($5.30) made a valiant last stride lunge but failed to gather the leader in while Gary Eyre-trained Karinya Rocket ($122.90) figured in the photo that relegated Brigit Buafai to fourth.
If at first you don’t succeed, keep trying.
That must be the motto for the Allport family and their trainer David Hewitt.
Four-year-old mare Keilor Kimberly ($3.60) has run second on seven occasions from her last 12 starts this season including her only other win at Wagga when last in work on July 4, 2014.
Driven by Brad Hewitt, the Browning Blue Chip mare posted a creditable 1:57.9 in defeating Golden Montana ($6.40) and Hallycould ($5.10) in the first feature race, the AGL Energy Tabcorp Menangle “Where Horses Fly” Country Series heat.
The race was marred by an incident on the first turn which necessitated a restart, resulting in Falsely Accused and Just Clooney being scratched, both drivers John O’Shea and Jason Grimson avoiding injury.
Nathan Hoy was entrusted with the driving duties on the Peter Bullock-trained Haka Shannon ($8.30) in race six, the Country Series heat over 1720 metres and did not disappoint.
The winner is by Bettors Delight from the good mare Falcon Black Beauty and has now won 12 races for his owners Rayngold Pty Ltd, his form and winning mile rate of 1:56.6 should ensure more wins are not too far away.
Amanda Turnbull made the long trip north to drive Midnight Prowler ($8.20) who finished second while Bettor Charm ($71.90) ran another good race to finish third.
Modern Era ($3) has not raced since finishing seventh at Leeton in early January but was sent out in race eight looking in excellent condition by Shaun Snudden and did not disappoint his backers.
Coming from gate eleven, the Modern Art gelding had plenty in reserve winning by eleven metres over Hand For Tilly ($7.30) and Tulhurst Candy ($49.60) after his stablemate Opening Move led and finished eighth.
Amanda Turnbull’s trip north proved successful in the last race of the night when Skewbridge Road ($3) posted another smart 1:57.1 mile rate in defeating Barriettas Bliss ($4.30) and Polished Rocks ($3.80) the judge declaring a half neck margin in favour of the winner.
Young will continue their winter racing program with a twilight meeting this Saturday, June 13 followed by another meeting on Saturday, June 20 both being twilight meetings.