Best pacers in southern NSW hit Young

With minimum prize money of $6120 per race for five of the races, two at $10,000 per race and two top class two-year-old races at $15,300 per race, the added prize money has again attracted some of the best pacers in southern NSW.

Feature races of the afternoon, the $15,300 Alabar NSW Breeders Challenge for both fillies and colts and geldings have brought together star studded fields that would be the main attraction at any meeting in Australia. 

The first of the feature races will be race five for the fillies and here the Bathurst Gold Tiaras winner and locally-owned Don't Think Twice from gate four looks the one to beat. 

Last Fridays trial at Wagga when she won comfortably by 70 metres indicates she is back to her best and will be hard to toss over the 1720 metre journey. 

Her win at Bathurst was first class rating a solid 1:56.2 for the 1730 metre classic event and word has it that she has improved out of sight. 

Dangers to the Jason Grimson-trained pacer could well be  Fastestgirlintown from the Dennis Picker stable who has had two wins from her last four starts while Ten Crystals from the strong Bernie Hewitt stable could be improved from her fourth last time out at Penrith recently.

Race six is the second of the feature races and this is for the colts and geldings. This looks a more open event with a number of these runners having similar form. 

Stephen Maguire knows what takes too win a race on this track and with the pole marker Paternity Suit having two wins in four starts could be the pacemaker. 

Last start Young winner, Hez All Courage is an improving type and will be forward throughout for Bernie Hewitt. 

Mark Hewitt has Express Bomber firing well and is a tough conveyance, no doubt he will ensure the pace is kept solid throughout. 

The locally-trained Twentyeightblack for Glen Wilmot is not well drawn but could find a good position throughout and finish with a burst. 

Others with claims include last start winner Brobenah Boy and Pretty in what is a possibly the best of the day.

Racing opens with a C0 only over 1720 metres back markers Who's Driving and Killara Titan the main chances. 

Killara Titan ran second at Young last Saturday while Who's Driving is an improving type who has been close handy recently at Bathurst and Goulburn. 

Diamond Thief ran home well last start and could be on the improve while Ifthehatfitz was a winner two starts back at Canberra and could surprise. 

Race two is a three-year-old event over 1720, Boobalaga Road should start favourite following two recent wins and should make it a hat trick from this draw. That's Ideal for Amy Day won last time out at Canberra and was a good second prior to that win in smart time. 

Others with claims include Roarn for Kristin Cunningham who has Boobalaga Road in this race as well and could possibly finish with a Quinella with just a little luck. 

Pole marker Crusty ran an honest race here last week when third behind a very good horse in Art Mistress and this looks a better race for the daughter of top race mare Christy. 

Race three is over 2100 metres and the chances include A Life Under Fire from gate three. 

A last start New Zealand  winner, the Lester Hewitt trained three-year-old looks to have plenty of ability and may shine here for top reinsman John O'Shea. Other chances include the ever consistent Waterbug for Mark Cullen and possibly Ideal Investment and Haunui Tiger who has had no luck at Bathurst and Dubbo recently. 

Moving on to race four, again over 2100 metres and in this the main chances appear to be Atticus who was beaten here last week but looks better suited here. Our Princeoftides defeated Atticus here last week but may find this a little more difficult while there could be money for Heza Joker who has been finishing close handy with a win Wagga last year his most recent.

Race seven is another feature race, a “Where Horses Fly” heat  carrying $10,000 in total prizemoney. 

Stephen Maguire may well win his second race of the night with Loorrim Lad from an outside draw. The four-year-old gelding has won four of his last five starts and has been freshened since winning at Wagga in January. He is a class horse and should be to strong for this field. Killara Ninja is not out of this after some good performances of late while Uncle Jay, Kyalla Dave and Provincial who ran third here last week look to be the main dangers. 

The Glenn Wilmot-trained Casino Grin is well drawn and form tells us that the win is next in line following his recent performances. He rated 1:59.1 winning at Goulburn and he definitely drawn to lead. His dangers include Postal Express who ran fourth here last week behind Fantasy Level, another last start Young winner in Moonlight Gambler is not without a chance and possibly Bright And Sunny from gate one. 

The final race of the afternoon, race nine has four last start winners and anyone of them could repeat the performance. 

Of those, possibly Grinning Punter from gate one has strongest claims ahead of Vavadous who gave a great sight last time out when second after pulling hard behind Bundaburra at Young in good time and will be fitter for this. 

Flight Express is from a strong stable and his fifth at Dubbo was a creditable performance behind Mister Jogalong.

Certainly another top class day of racing with the usual free gate, Lions barbecue and bar together with the availability of the TAB on course.