Rubies shined in Young

Junee postman Bruce Harpley was over the moon when his three-year-old filly Rubies For Tash drew gate one in the first heat of the Alabar Breeders Challenge. After some unfavourable draws in recent weeks, the Courage Under Fire pacer took full advantage of gate one to lead throughout in the $15,000 event to defeat Taylors Reason and Destiny Belle by a convincing 3.5 m. The mile rating for the 1720 m event was an impressive 1:57.1 which will stand her in good stead when she goes in against the locally owned Don’t Think Twice who won her heat at Penrith on Thursday night in fast time.

The second heat of the challenge, race seven was taken out by one of the outsiders in the race, The Ides Of March driven by Junee Reefs trainer Matthew Harris. A similar winning margin of 3.25 m and a mile rating of 1:58.7 The Ides of March beat out Tiwanaku driven by Bruce Harpley.

Racing opened with a two-year-old pace going to the Bathurst trained Mackeral driven by Bernie Hewitt. The McCardle gelding defeated the Bruce Harpley trained Ace In Our Pocket by 12 m with Our Uncle Alan for Anthony Frisby finishing third in a winning mile rate of 2:00.8. Mackeral was able to record his first win from only nine starts and in doing so has possibly secured a successful racing career for his enthusiastic group of owners.

The second race of the afternoon, a three-year-old pace over 2100 m resulted in a win for the Nathan Turnbull trained polemarker The Kiss Principle defeating short priced favourite Just Milhouse for David Kennedy and driver Amanda Turnbull who looked the winner in the straight but was unable to run down the leader in the final stages. The mile rating of 2:01.4 was again a creditable performance with a fast 27.6 last quarter being the feature of the race.

Pinnacle Hope finished fast over the final 200 m of the race to beat Conrod Kenze driven by Bathurst resident Amy Rees. The mile rating of 2:00 min and a close head margin to the winner was again an exciting finish to an entertaining race.

Amanda Turnbull and the highly fancied Moon Over Manhattan showed her class in defeating Smooth Mace and Kirra Kid driven by dad Steve Turnbull. The three-year-old filly posted her sixth win from 15 starts and registered a mile rating of 2:2.7.

Timmy May took out race five with a convincing win over the more fancied Smithstars Lexus for Amanda Turnbull. Timmy May scored a close head victory over the favourite in a mile rating to the winner of 2:00.3.

Young will race again next Friday night June 2.