Perfect end to 2015/16 season

With all the shorter 1720 metre events breaking the elusive two minute barrier, the photo finish camera and timekeepers were kept busy for the entire eight race program.

The opening race was taken out by Kiama owned Real Desire four year old gelding Kiama Sutra ($8) trained by Matthew Johnstone and driven by Scott Osmond.

Racing behind the more fancied Bathurst pacer Mothers Angel ($4.10) for most of the journey, the winner finished strongly in the straight to record a nose victory over Mother Angel.

Favourite Heavenly Shades ($1.70) claimed third money just a half neck behind the second-placed horse, a winning mile rate of 1:58.8 setting the scene for a fast night of racing.

Race two produced another sub two minute performance when the locally-owned daughter of the Presidential Ball mare, Lily Leck, Shirvanee ($10.20) bounced back with a well-deserved win for his owners following a long campaign in Queensland.

Starting from gate one and being presented with the perfect sit behind the leader, the son of Shadow Play secured the perfect run in the straight to defeat favourite Chinghi ($2) who had set a solid pace throughout with Swaggie Shannon ($7.40) filling third place.

The winner posted a smart 1:59.3 mile rate and gave trainer Josh Powderly a winning double for the week following the impressive win of Athols Last Safari at Bathurst.

Race three gave favourite backers some relief when Vergels Girl ($1.50) set the pace throughout in recording a slick 1:59.3 for the 1720 metre event and posting a convincing three metre winning margin.

Place getters Victoria Pass ($11.10) and Marys Little Rose were no match for the John O'Shea pacer who has now won seven races for her dedicated owner.

Bathurst reinsman Bernie Hewitt was able to get the best out of the Art Major three-year-old Lethal Promise ($4.60) in race four, recording a convincing nine metre win over favourite Purple Shades ($4.10) and the Mark Hewitt-trained Son Of A Virgin ($9.70).

The mile rating of 1:58.1 was again in keeping with the times previously recorded over the program and certainly sets the scene for a successful four-year-old racing career for the winner now of three races.

Our female drivers continue to show above average ability with Ellen Bartley showing the boys how it is done in race five.

Driving the Mat Rue-trained Glencore ($2.10) a well judged race in front, she was able to stave off a determined late challenge from Gentleman Red ($4.40) and the locally-trained early favourite for the race Forest Fury ($6.20).

A mile rating of 1:57.8 was within the shadows of the race record of 1:56 set by Audrey Maree set in May 2015. 

Canberra driver Scott Osmond notched up his second winner of the night in race six when the Village Jolt two year old First Of All ($3.80) won at only his second race start for trainer Matthew Johnstone.

Leading throughout and set a moderate pace, Osmond was able to kick away at the 400 and defeat Whostolemypidgeon ($5.10) and the Jason Gaffney-trained For A Reason gelding For Me ($8) in a slower mile rating of 2:03.7 for the 2100 metre event.

The win again shows the front driving ability of the former top junior driver and now the proud owner of the 100 acre Harpley Park training complex, just outside Canberra.

The second favourite and last start Dubbo winner Pure Cam ($2.10) took up the roll as pacemaker in race seven and in doing so scored a close half neck win over Folk Art ($3.10) and the fast finishing Trunkey Emily ($7.40) almost claimed the prize after securing an inside run over the concluding stages of the race.

A winning mile rate of 1:59.8 for the 1720 metre event again was testimony to the fantastic presentation of the all weather Young surface.

The curtain came down on the 2015/2016 racing season with a two-year-old event that unfortunately was reduced to only six runners.

Our second young female driver of the night, Melissa Hawke showed why she was named top Canberra driver when she set the pace in winning with the Art Major filly Spirit Rainbow ($1.80).

Another Canberra regular Scott Osmond almost secured the prize with the Bill Trembath trained lightly raced Art Major filly Fan Tays Ya ($3.30) with Wilga Mary ($25.10) running her honest race to finish third.

Driver Melissa Hawke did make sure she had plenty in reserve in the race setting some moderate quarters and the slowest winning mile rate of the night in 2:04.6.

The Young club will race again on Friday night, September 9.

All enthusiasts are reminded that the annual general meeting of the Young Harness Racing Club Inc. will be held at the Empire Hotel on Monday night, September 26 at 7pm.      

Local trainer, Nicholas Hargraves, made the long trip down the highway to Menangle on Saturday night to compete in the nine race program.

Hargraves was rewarded for his efforts when Takahoa landed the money ($16.00) NSW TAB under the guidance of leading country driver Chris Geary. After being forward throughout the running, the five-year-old Ultimate Falcon mare proved too strong in the final stages of the 1609 metre event, defeating Coldplay Road (Amanda Turnbull) and Izzy Watt (Mat Rue). 

The competitive mare has now won eight races from 34 starts, her $12,600 winners cheque now taking her earnings to $41,500.