The unpredictable weather pattern continued on Tuesday night when the Young Harness Racing Club staged an eight race program that included two heats of the Rising Stars and two heats of the $25,00 Menangle Country Series.
Racing opened under threatening skies with a C1 to C2 class event over 1720 metres with an eight horse field facing the starter.
Goulburn trainer David Hewitt produced a handy four-year-old by McCardle in Franco Hammond ($1.60) to get favourite backers off to a good start scoring a convincing 33 metre win over Serene Major ($12.70) after being second at the bell with the $3000 claimer Skippy Saddler ($29.70) driven by Sam Hewitt claiming third in a mile rating time of 1:57.2.
Race two of the afternoon was the first of the Young HRC NSW Rising Star series.
Local reinsman Jason Grimson landed the first of the two heat winners with the Nathan Hurst-trained Flight Express ($9.30).
The mile rating of 2:02.7 was acceptable with the winner claiming a three metre margin over his opponents after being fourth at the bell and being four wide at the 400.
Runners in the first of the Country Series Heats graced the track in race three and resulted in a win for the Stephen Maguire, Mirrool-trained pacer Loorrim Lad ($4.10) who lasted to defeat a determined Casino Grin ($5.40) by a neck margin with back marker and last start Young winner Stening ($4.10) in a mile rating of 1:57.7 .
Loorrim Lad will now take his place in the final to be held at Menangle July 2.
The second heat of the Rising Star series again resulted in a win for Young driver Jason Grimson who drove New Zealand import Supriya ($1.30) to victory, much to the delight of her owners that include the coach and half the Canberra Raiders teal including Jason Croker.
The win by Jason Grimsonn gave him a point score lead with 31 points ahead of James Harding on 18 and Mitch Turnbull on 12 at that point.
Unfortunately for Stuart McDonald both his nominated horses were scratched.
Race five was another country Series heat and Murringo-trainer Nathan Hoy was pleased when Afamilyaffair ($1.60) had a comfortable win over the Mark Hewitt-trained Im Captain Morgan ($11.00) and Lucky Art ($5.70).
Leading Canberra driver Melissa Hawke put Modern Maestro ($1.60) to the test when she sat outside the leader to eventually post a narrow nose victory in race six over a determined Good Girl Shirl ($6.80).
With deteriorating weather on a well prepared racing surface, Modern Maestro clocked 1:59.2 for the journey.
Goulburn trainer David Hewitt continued his winning streak when he handed the driving duties to Blake Hewitt behind Allstar Sea ($1.70fav) in race seven.
With the track feeling the effects of the continuous showers, the mile rating was a respectable 2:03.6 for the 2100 metre event.
The final race of the night gave Junee reinsman Bruce Harpley a well deserved win with the Stan Hedlund-trained Bettors Delight gelding Harry Delight ($5.70) with a mile rating of 2:01.9 again being a respectable time under the conditions.
Young will now take a mini break with their next meeting to be held on Friday night, July 15.
