An eight race program that included the running of the Cordina Farms Harness Breeders NSW Princess Series resulted in some fast times and extremely close finishes.

Forbes trainer Jeffery Brown started the ball rolling with his American Ideal gelding Our Pepperjack ($5.80) driven to perfection by leading driver Mat Rue who placed the winner firmly in the lead at the bell, running home in 28.9 and setting a mile rating of 2:00.8 in defeating Pedros Joy ($8.50) and the more fancied Provincial ($5.20). 

The winning margin of 5 ¾  metres was a convincing start to the night. Unfortunately the favourite in the race Writeadream ($1.90) was not on his best behaviour, the last start Coolomon winner finishing last after racing unkindly for most of the 1720  metre event. 

The second of the night resulted in a win for the Nicholas Hargraves-trained Our Prince Of Tides ($10.70) again driven by Mat Rue. The favoured Dollarbill ($1.90) missed out by 5.5 meters, running second with the rank outsider Our Buller Boy ($89) running home well from ninth at the bell to give his backers a great sight in the 29.5 run home and a winning mile to the winner rate of 1:59.9. 

Local trainer Peter Hanson was more than delighted when his Bettors Delight gelding secured a start after being an emergency in race three. 

The six-year-old gelding Moonlight Gambler ($49.50) driven by Madi Young came from eighth at the bell to unleash a strong finishing run from the 500m mark to defeat another outsider in the Canberra-trained Five Ay Em ($27.50) and the favourite for the race Abercrombie Alice ($2.90). 

Almost identical quarters for the race and a mile rating of 2:01.9 for the 2100 metre event provided a thrilling finish for spectators with just 30y metres separating the entire field. It was back to business in race four when the very much in form Fantasy Level ($2.30) made it three in a row for Nathan and Mitch Turnbull following wins at Dubbo and Menangle in recent weeks. 

Having the perfect position at the bell, the Energy Level seven-year-old made it 13 wins in his long career that is certainly not coming to an end in the near future. 

Placings in the race were again for the long shots with Native Ceasar ($40.20) and Glowing Courage ($16.20) fighting out the minors. 

The mile rating of 1:58.5 to the winner again pointed to another top track preparation following the washout recently due to the untimely rain.  

Bathurst mentor Bernie Hewitt produced a handy pacer in race five when Art Mistress ($1.70) returned from a freshen up without a trail to record a 1:57.9 mile rate to defeat Gotta Go Jazzy Jet ($2.60) and Crusty ($10.10) in the feature race of the night. 

Owned by the Estate of the late Joseph Cordina, the Art Major filly secured the trophy that was part of the Cordina Farms, Harness Breeders NSW Princess Series, a concept that has proven to be a successful partnership within the country harness clubs racing calender. 

Crookwell free legged pacer Boobalaga Road ($1.70) was certainly put to the test in race six when Bernie Hewitt laid down a massive challenge with Hez Razor Sharp ($4.50) before Scott Osmond got every inch out of the favourite to take the prize, scoring by a half neck with Abercrombie Tab ($61.70) finishing third. 

Setting a steady pace early, the favourite ran home in 29.7 and 29.1 reflecting a typical Osmond drive for the Canberra reinsman.

Mat Rue made it three wins for the night with another polished driver behind favourite Hez All Courage ($3.60) in race seven defeating Tommy Parker ($6.30) and Adore Me ($4) in an exciting finish that saw no less than six runners finish within less than ten metres from the winner. 

A mile rating of 2:00.5 was again a creditable performance with the winner coming from third at the bell to notch up his first win from only three starts in his short two-year-old racing career, certainly more in store for the son of Courage Under Fire.

Travelling long distances did not deter South Coast trainer Bob Abrahams from negotiating the highways and byways from South Nowra and entrusting his trusty five-year-old pacer General Jaylet ($25.60) into the hands of Ray Turner in the final race of the night to win his first race in only five starts.

He jumped straight the lead and set the pace, proving too strong over the concluding stages to defeat Killara Titan ($3.90) and the improving Diamond Thief ($13.90) in another heart-stopping finish to a top night of racing.

Friday afternoon will see the Young club race again with two heats of the $15,300 Alabar NSW Breeders Challenge, two-year-old Fillies together with colts and geldings. 

Also the $10,000 AGL Energy Tabcorp Where Horses Fly and $10,000 Country Series Heat will be on the strong $6,120 per race program.   

See Page 23 of today's Witness for more photos of Saturday night’s meeting.