Harness racing will return to the Young Paceway tonight when the stars will race under the stars in an eight race program.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Racing opens with a Ladyship pace over 2100 metres with a capacity field to face the starter vying for a share of the $6,120 on offer.
Matt Rue is expected to have a rewarding night with some very good drives set down, not the least being It Takes Courage in the first race following some very good consistent form over the past weeks.
From a favourable gate, the lead could be contested early but the distance will suit and the conditions of the race look to favour the Western Districts pacer. Dangers are Missy Deyo from a second line draw, Grinear Girl and possibly Bountobemad for Steven Harris.
The second of the night is a Lordship pace, again over 2100 metres with a capacity field. Stalwart of the club, Trevor White has Always In Command engaged from gate nine and should be running on over the concluding stages of the race.
Youthful driver Madi Young will keep the field honest from gate three with The Mighty Shoey who has been close, handy of late and could be the pacesetter.
Race three has certain conditions that will suit many of the C1 horses in work at the moment, also eligible claimers that are set at $3000, Major Express is one that qualifies for those pre race conditions and has drawn in gate nine.
Pole marker Ponderena looks the winner here for Amy Day following some very good placings in strong company over recent weeks and looks hard to beat. Pressure will come from Shane Hillier and David Moran with last start winner Charlie And Joe who is also drawn well, with Jumping Jack Jimmy and the locally-trained Waterbug to again feature in the finish with Gubbata not far away.
Race four is for horses that have not won more than $5000 in their last four starts and are assessed at no better than a C3.
Shane Hillier has taken the advantage of concession driver Cameron Hart to take the controls behind Rob The Bank and has drawn well in gate two for the 2100 metre $6120 event.
The claimers get their chance again in race five with $7000 being the claiming price, Young track record holder Audrey Maree falls into that category for Sam Hewitt but is drawn on the outside second line alley.
The selection for the race is Missed By Red for Steve Turnbull who is a last start winner from the stablemate Cullectomatic to be driven by Mitch Turnbull. Dangers in the race are certainly last start winner Kapow Shannon, Holm Three and the claimer Audrey Maree who is a C9 class pacer and looks well placed here.
Three-year-old pacers face the starter in race six, Peter Bullock has engaged the services of McKayler Barnes to drive Lorenzo Shannon in this race, the “good oil” is that she will will try and lead.
The younger brigade of two-year-olds step out in race seven over the shorter 1720 metres, an interesting race to say the least. Bernie Hewitt has a high opinion of Pretty Hot and is expected to go well in this ahead of last start winner Miss Gold Fortune for Bruce Harpley.
The Canberra-trained Spirit Rainbow won against the three-year-olds two starts back at very short odds and could be forward here with Iridium Castle who fell soon after the start here before finishing third last time time out looking to improve on that run for Mark Hewitt.
The final race of the night is for horses that have not won a race but must have a minimum of four starts to be eligible.
The shorter 1720 metre event has certainly given many of the starters a better than even chance of winning, of those possibly Killara Titan from gate three looks a likely winner from the Canberra-trained Smash That for Lindsay Woodward and Canberra's leading driver Melissa Hawke.