Bathurst pacer snatches win

Feature race on the eight race program - the Ray White Real Estate $12,000 Cherry Festival Cup - was once again a keenly-contested affair with the 2480 metre journey providing a great spectacle for the large crowd in attendance. 

In what appeared to be a match race between the top three runners, El Fuego, ($2.30 Fav.) Famous Texas ($3.60) and Jokers To The Right, ($3.60), Bathurst birthday boy Bernie Hewitt had his own party when A Passion For Aces ($34) stormed home down the outside to defeat the Steve Turnbull-trained pacemaker El Fuego and the Bruce Birch Menangle Park-trained, and locally-owned pacer, Jokers To The Right driven by Todd McCarthy. 

In fairness to the beaten brigade, the smaller field contributed to tight racing and catching Jokers To The Right in a pocket as the pressure was applied.  

The winner was bred by locals Ken and Sue Smith at Mimosa Stud and is by Aces and Sevens from the good producing mare Passionate Kisses. 

A winner now of 17 races, the seven-year-old could be destined to a life north of the border as suitable races become harder to find in this immediate area.

Race one of the evening was a fast run affair with the David Hewitt-trained Modern Dancer ($3) taking full advantage of the one out, one back sit after coming out of gate seven. 

Driven the perfect race by Brad Hewitt, the Modern Art five-year-old mare made it four wins in a row after winning at Cobram and Canberra recently. 

The winning margin of seven plus metres over favourite Soo Special ($2.40) and Get Around Me ($12.40) was an indication of this mares ability, certainly more wins are not too far away for the winner now of six from only 26 starts and a mile rating of 1:59.5 for the 2100 metre event. 

The well prepared Young track again played fast and true in the second of the night when Shaun Snudden produced another handy Modern Art gelding in Modern Era ($1.80 fav.) driven by Mick Hutchings. 

As in the first of the night, the eventual winner had the perfect sit throughout the race after coming out of gate nine and the final two quarters of 28.7 and 28.8 respectively produced a 1.59.4 mile rating giving the four-year-old gelding a convincing win over Promises Galore ($3.90) and Kapow Shannon ($7.70). 

The winning margin of over 15 metres again was impressive to say the least, the sixth win from 17 starts enough to suggest he will be a horse to follow in the future. 

The Narrandera trainer continued on his winning way when Barriettas Bliss ($9.40) set a new track record for the 1700 metres in setting a 1:56.4 benchmark that was originally set at 1:56.7 by Mean Courage. 

Up and coming young driver Corey Bell continues to promote his talents, the drive on the winner would be comparable to any in the state. 

The five-year-old Blissfull Hall mare defeated the fancied Cracka Smile ($3) who led at the bell for Amanda Turnbull while the locally-owned and trained OK Alright ($14.40) continues to race consistently for Peter Hansen and Michael Day Jr. 

The halfway point in the meeting was reached with the running of the David Hodges Memorial. David was tragically killed in 2008 after working his horses at the Young track. 

Leading, and the much travelled driver Amanda Turnbull, made her presence felt with the first of a winning double with Lagoon Stride ($2.70) defeating Win Or Die ($2.20 fav) and Trikala ($11.70) for Bernie Hewitt. 

Lagoon Stride has hit double figures with 10 wins to his credit from 36 starts and 11 minor placings. 

Leading owners E & M Stride picked up their second cheque of the night when Amanda once again showed her driving ability in guiding Padabing Stride ($2.80) to a close but convincing win over Regal Point ($11.50) and Confederate Girl ($19.50). 

The Village Jasper five-year-old was narrowly beaten at Penrith last start after being three wide early and the change of luck on Friday night would have been a fitting reward for all concerned. 

Bernie Hewitt was able to put some extra icing on the cake when Always Will ($7.60) arrived just in time to edge out Poppy Cee ($10.80) and Fake Art ($7.10) in race seven. 

With the margin being a head both ways, the finish was the cause of great excitement at the winning post when the numbers went into the frame. 

Always Will was the third Modern Art pacer to win on the night for the popular Georges Plains trainer who has 40 horses in work at the moment including numerous youngsters. 

Along with Corey Bell, Murringo youngster Nathan Hoy is also putting himself out there as a promising young driver with a polished front running display in the final event of the night, the David Glasheen Memorial. 

Taking Milton Chaney ($3.70) to the lead soon after the start he was reluctant to surrender the coveted position for the entire 1720 metre of the race and was rewarded with a close but convincing win over the fancied Bernie Hewitt-trained pacer Zirconia ($2.20) with second favourite Highly Excited ($4.20) finishing third. 

The Art Major six-year-old gelding now has his first win on the board from 11 attempts and it could be the ice breaker for all concerned. 

Milton Chaney is from the mare Residual, her dam Jasmarilla was a winner of 50 races and $503,000 in prizemoney with 68 placings to her credit. 

Lets hope the ability flows through.