Michael Day Jnr wins award

Local trainer Michael Day Jr collected the Local Driver and Local Trainer of the Year awards while Amanda Turnbull was awarded the Driver of the Year award. 

The Trainer of the Year went down to the wire with Bathurst trainer Steve Turnbull going into the final meeting with an eight point advantage over Eglington trainer Nathan Hurst. 

Unfortunately for Steve, he had no starters at Young, while Nathan arrived with a number of runners, ensuring his last minute attempt to take home the trophy would be well within his reach. 

Michael Day Jr was also able to receive the Horse of the Year award with Dolci Bromac, making it a very successful year for the likeable Young trainer. 

Racing opened with the three-year-old fillies pace run over the 172 metre journey, a capacity field facing the starter for the final time in their restricted three-year-old career. 

The Murringo-trained Scentelo ($4.60) (Grinfromeartoear-Scent) filly trained by Garth Hoy was able to settle in the coveted one in the early part of the race being fourth at the bell, before making a long and sustaining run to the 400 and leading them into the  straight, holding onto score by a neck from Dark Blue Sapphire ($4.20) and favourite Heavenly Tooth ($3.40). 

The winning mile rate of 1:59.8 and a slick 28.4 first quarter indicates more wins are in store for the Success Stud-bred filly who now has her first win on the board from 18 starts. 

The Gibson family and Success Stud were sponsors of race two, again over the 1720 metres. 

Unfortunately with two scratchings in an eight horse field, betting was a little tight with all six remaining runners starting under double figure odds. 

Yanco trainer Kim Hillier and Andrew Pitt combined with four-year-old gelding Tan Son Nhut (Extreme Three-Seafield Opal) ($6.40) to take home the prize following an impressive run home from last at the bell. 

The final two quarters of 29.5 and 29.8 resulted in a 1:59.5 mile rate and a nose-winning margin over Fantasy Level ($6.50) and the more favoured Tulhurst Candy ($3.90) for Nathan Hurst who, at that point, was gathering valuable points for his last minute assault on the trainer of the year trophy. 

Nathan was able to firmly grasp the trophy after race three, again for the three-year-old fillies, when Kyalla Tee Jay (Four Strarzz Shark-Superlil) ($1.90) left nothing in doubt for those that took the short odds, coming home in 29.7 to defeat Think It Through ($3.10) and the unusually named Soeur De Lyse  ($13.80) Four Starzz Shark-Lady Elise) driven by Ben Settree for The Lagoon trainer Douglass Moore. 

Bathurst trainers continued on their winning way in race four when Mark Rawsthorne and Shona Stewart gained the best possible result with the four-year-old Major Armbro ($3.70) (Armbro Operative-Self Possessed) gelding following a first run up false start. 

Driver Shona Stewart was able to get the feisty gelding up to the gate for the second attempt and although still racing with vigour, he was able to run down Karinya Mully ($2.40) and Mister Ebby ($30.100) trained by Michael Day Jr. and driven in his absence by Scott Hewitt who looked a threat on the turn, finishing just behind the winner. 

Temora reinsman Ray Walker called on the services of veteran Junee driver Trevor White to take the drive on one of his two acceptors in race five and no doubt was more than pleased with his decision. 

Unusually decked out in the TAB colours of Green with TAB motif, he stepped into the cart behind Glenburn Addy ($10.30) (Village Jasper-Glenburne Smoothy) and gave the opposition a driving lesson, coming from third at the bell to record a convincing two metre win over In My Life ($12.40) and pole marker Striptease Dancer ($4.70).

Rays own drive Glenburn Cheeky ($2.20) raced midfield throughout finishing fifth with the winner recording a 1:59.2 mile rate. 

Smiles all round were the order of the night when Crookwell trainer Daniel Rowell recorded the biggest upset of the day with Ponders Dream ($45.20) (Ponder-Cherry Time) in race six. 

A deserved win for both Daniel and the winners breeders, Joan and Peter Schiller and family who have put many hours and loads of money into harness racing for some time. 

Placegetters Tulhurst Tully ($11.20) and Postal Express ($4.00) completed a trifecta that would result in a $1912.70 collect for some lucky punters. 

Trevor White continued his night of victories in race seven, again for the two year olds, with the favourite Official Jasper ($1.20) (Village Jasper-Official Secret) sending punters home in a good mood after defeating Calypso Shannon ($9.10) and stablemate, and one of three starters for Bathurst trainer Peter Bulluck, first starter Sporty Shannon ($36.10).

Certainly a great twilight program for the Young club who race again on Friday, September 19 with heats of the popular $10,000 heats of the Tabcorp Menangle “Where Horses Fly” series to be run over the 1720 metre journey both for C0/C1 and also C2/C3 class pacers.