Fans were treated to a fantastic afternoon of excitement and unbelievable hospitality on Saturday with the committee of the Burrangong Picnic Race Club providing top-class racing in front of a large crowd of young and old patrons alike.
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With a number of in-form gallopers nominated and jockeys who had mostly competed with success the previous day at Lockhart, the quality of racing was again of the highest standard.
Racing opened with an 800 metre dash.
This is the first time the current committee has run this event, with the distance not utilised at professional meets, but a club record at 0-44.75H had previously been set by Doubly Vain way back in 1997.
The odds on favourite, A Little Alert trained by Brad Witt from Wagga Wagga and ridden by Tim Phillips, never left his backers in doubt.
Tim himself came off a good win at Lockhart on Friday afternoon and this was to be the first of a winning double for the popular hoop.
The time of 0-44.10H was a new record on a perfectly prepared track.
Placegetters Royal Regard for Darryl Rolf of Canberra, who had the services of Samara Johnson, also a Lockhart winner on Rite Of Honour and top weight Supreme Laird for Kevin Higgins of Bathurst and Troy Sweeney taking home the place getters minor cheque.
Race two went out to the 1000 metre start in the shute at the Milvale Road side of the track.
After wining on The Young Fella at Lockhart on Friday, Ricky Blewitt opened up his account in race two, the first of what to be was a winning double, on the Neil Osborne-trained Prefer who had finished an unflattering last at Wagga the previous week.
The locally-owned Living Fire did issue a challenge under the guidance of Rebeka Prest, finishing a length from the winner while Cootamundra trainer Tricia Anderson had to be content with a third placing with the Bon Hoffa four-year-old mare Pink.
The unusually named Inorr Of Yishay caught a few off guard, including the race caller in winning the third race of the day for trainer Michael Plummer from Orange and jockey Troy Sweeney.
Finishing strongly over the final 400 metres, the Seidnazar six-year-old gelding was far to good for Dominico ridden by 3kg claimer Michael Gray with the top weight and early leader Beamer Dreamer for Darryl Rolfe and Ashley Boyd finishing third after setting the pace for most of the 1000 metre journey.
Race four was always going to provide a great sight with the 1600 metre event giving racegoers full view of the entire field for around 800 metre as they travelled down the back straight.
Parkes trainer and regular Young club supporter George Wright gave Ricky Blewitt his second winner of the day on board the Catbird seven-year-old gelding Big Sunday.
Jockey Rebeka Prest again had to be happy with second money, riding Jack I Am for Richard Coulten while Forbes trainer Billy Hayes provided the third placegetter with Ratbag who was ridden by John Nisbet.
There is a good story behind John Nisbet, a very successful apprentice jockey who was, in those early years, under the guidance of Sydney trainer Paul Sutherland and successfully taking out the leading apprentice award.
He then moved into training himself as time progressed but unfortunately became involved in a series of events that resulted in him resuming race riding on Saturday as an amateur at an age when most jockeys are looking at retirement.
A maiden plate over 1400 metre was race five in a prelude to the feature race of the day and again with Stargrazy for Darryl Rolfe landing some big bets at good odds under astute riding from Samara Johnson giving her a winning double for the weekend following a win at Lockart.
Favourite for the race, Cousin Bonnie ridden by Ashley Boyd, put up a great fight being only a half length from the winner while French Mistress for Tim Phillips and trainer Trevor Sutherland were setting themselves up for a win in the cup, finishing third in a smart run race.
The final race of the day was the McAlister Motors Isuzu Ute Burrangong Picnic Cup run over the 1400 metre and attracting a strong field of eight runners.
Having looked at what could have been a nasty fall at a Wagga harness meeting two weeks back, dual trainer Trevor Sutherland was always confident his grey six-year-old gelding Partexpectations would provide him with the trophy and the $3,500 winner cheque to help ease the pain.
His confidence was well and truly rewarded when Tim Phillips took full advantage of the inside run that was presented to him at the 100 metre mark, driving the grey through the gap to defeat the other grey in the race, Boralyn, who had set the pace and looked the winner not far from home under patient riding from Samara Johnson.
These two greys fought it out over the concluding stages to defeat topweight and early $4.00 favourite Padstow Bay.
Certainly a top day of racing run in fantastic weather, one can now sit back and prepare themselves for the popular Harden Picnics to be held on Saturday week, October 25.
