Bathurst driver Amanda Turnbull landed her 200th win for the season at Friday’s Young harness meeting, starting proceedings in emphatic style riding the Anne Hancock-trained King Caractaacus.
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Adding to the occasion, it was Anne’s first winner in 43 years.
Despite more than 35mm of rain falling in the days leading up the meeting, racing again was of the highest standard with fast times and some close finishes highlighting a strong nine race program.
Sent out a $1.30 favourite, the four-year-old son of Christian Cullen recorded his second win in 13 starts in defeating Battleliner ($13.20) and the West Wyalong-trained Coopers Beach Boy ($8.40) that was given every chance by driver Steve Turnbull.
Backers of the $2 favourite Lilylane had their hearts in their mouths at the 50 metre mark when the Shaun Snudden-trained mare galloped after leading by a comfortable margin in the second race of the afternoon.
After leading by a big margin at the 400, the Lombo Mandingo five-year-old literally “got the staggers” and had enough in reserve to record an 11 metre win over Meagrs ($10.40) for Trevor White and the fancied Sweet Embrace ($4.90) for Amanda Turnbull.
Lilylane had a similar offence at Wagga last time out when she galloped in running after leading, Shaun Snudden no doubt has some work to do with the mare who has shown brilliant early speed.
As what appeared to be an omen bet after the sun finally shone through in race three.
The Dawn Of A New Day two-year-old gelding Bright and Sunny ($5.90) driven a patient race by Jeremy Lamb, came from behind the leader and favourite Gentleman Red ($1.30) driven by Amanda Turnbull at only his fourth start to claim the prize with the Ray Walker-trained daughter of Josella, Lorna Ella ($10.80) finishing third after being close throughout.
One of Young’s greatest supporters, Trevor White was duly rewarded for his commitment with a nice win behind another Dawn Of A New Day colt in Elite Street ($4.60) in race four.
Having been placed just behind the place getters in recent starts including a fifth at Wagga last time out, the improvement no doubt well received by his owners.
Goulburn driver Sam Hewitt gave the well-supported Abercrombie Smile ($1.80) every possible chance, leading for most of the 1720 metre journey before being run down by the eventual winner.
Rank outsider Samuel Thomas ($25.30) gave a bold showing after being midfield at the bell and a win is certainly not too far away for another son of Dawn Of A New Day.
Bathurst trainer Josh Turnbull pulled the right rein when he called upon the services of Amanda Turnbull to take the drive on the Presidential Ball filly Mayihaveabiscuit ($8.20) in race five.
The locally-trained Think It Through ($1.40) had been taken to the front by John Vautin and looked the winner at the 400 before capitulating in the straight to finish third behind second place getter Scentello ($13.10) for Murringo driver Nathan Hoy.
The mile rate was the fastest so far on a drying track (1.59.4) and gave the winner her third victory in 22 starts, no doubt pleasing her breeder, long time APG sales supporter Michael McGeechan.
Win number three for Amanda Turnbull came up in race six when Josh Turnbull presented Im The Intimidator ($4.20) to score a narrow but convincing win over equal favourite Hells A Coming ($4.20) for trainer Peter Birks and driver Scott Hewitt with Grin And Gold ($7) for Steven Harris filling the minor placing.
The wins kept coming for trainer Josh Turnbull when he elected to go for Goulburn driver Amy Day in race seven.
Sending out Lets Go Diego ($1.60) for his first Australian start, the four-year-old son of Courage Under Fire came from fourth at the bell to record a comfortable win and in doing so had a mile rating of 1:59.7 placed against his name indicating that more wins are just around the corner for the New Zealand import.
An eye-catching run was handed in by the Jason Gaffney-trained, Murray Sullivan-driven Thee Point Turn ($17.20) who was second at the bell, while Nathan Hoy brought home Gatlin Silver ($28.80) from sixth at the bell to finish third.
Eglington trainer-driver Nathan Hurst jumped into the cart behind Burra Sullivan ($4) for race eight, run under clear skies following a bleak afternoon weather wise, to land the last start Bathurst winner to a convincing win over Forever Texas ($3.70) and favourite Lombo Madame Lash ($2.40) for Shaun Snudden and Leigh Sutton.
Lomb M adame Lash was best out at the1720 metre start and set a solid pace throughout before surrendering the lead at the 200, the eventual winner coming from eighth at the bell and in doing so set a smart 1:57.8 mile rate.
Burra Sullivan has now recorded 13 wins in his career from 40 starts with a similar placed record.
The final race of the afternoon resulted in a popular win for local trainer Michael Day Jr. Driving the perfect race behind the leader, “Bub” was able to secure a clear passage at the 50 metre mark and drive Dulci Bromac ($10.10) through a narrow opening to defeat the Grenfell-trained Lombo Yanky Invader($13.20) and the well-supported Attorney Stride ($1.60) the winning margin being a ½ neck and a mile rating of 2:01.1 recorded to the daughter of Falcon Seelster who has now won five races from 35 starts for her owners Eric and Rosemary Basham.
The Young club are now preparing for the NSW Breeders Challenge Regional finals to be conducted this Sunday afternoon, July 27.
Pacers from throughout NSW are expected to compete for the $20,000 finals in each of the three different age classes with a strong supporting program expected to attract a large crowd.