With numerous meetings, both thoroughbred and harness, being washed out over the past couple of weeks including the lucrative Eugowra Canola Cup and of course the Young Picnics due to the condition of the track, it was certainly gratifying to see the Young Harness Racing Club successfully conduct an eight race programme last Friday night.
With a strong representation of the “Turnbull Stable” from Bathurst being dominant in the final acceptances, it was no surprise to see the Western Districts leading combination take home the fat end of the purse in the majority of races.
The opening race of the night was certainly a family affair with owner Jenny Turnbull, her trainer husband Steve and driver daughter Amanda successfully securing a convincing win with the five year old Sportwriter gelding Written In Style ($1.70) defeating the Ray Walker trained Bell Ringer ($20.00) and the Terry Judd trained Navajo Rocky ($9.30).
The winner finished with a slick 1:59.9 mile rating and a winning margin of 4.6 metres and a third quarter of 29.6 on what was declared as a fast track.
Smithstars Lexus takes out race 2
Race two was again a fast run race with the winner, Smithstars Lexus ($1.10) giving his backers no cause for concern winning by 7.3 metres.
Smithstars Lexus produced an impressive 1:57.3 mile rate under the guidance of Amanda Turnbull.
After the perfect sit behind the eventual second place runner Shirvanee ($20.10) who had set the pace throughout, the Rock N Roll Heaven four year old entire again posted a similar winning margin as the previous winner.
Third place was taken out by the Canberra trained Kiama Sutra ($23.70) 2.4 meters away.
The winning mile rate was the best for the Ross Smith owned pacer who has now won eight races from twenty seven starts.
His dam, Panoramic Lady is by the prolific sire of broodmare producing winners in Panorama who stood for some time at Pepper Tree Farm at Cowra.
Three for the Turnbulls
The consistency for the Turnbull stable continued in race three when the Turnbull combination continued their winning streak.
Amanda was once again seen at her best steering Missed By Red ($4.60) to a decisive win, albeit a narrow 1.5 metre margin, over the more fancied last start winner Mammals Flash ($2.50) with His A Tease ($15.30) securing third money in another sub two minute run race, Missed By Red posting 1:59.5 and a third quarter of 28.5 for the 2100 metre event.
A double for Jenny Turnbull
Jenny Turnbull won her second race of the night as an owner with the Steve trained and Nathan Turnbull driven six year old mare Montana Shadow ($4.50) who defeated Lettuceventilate ($12.90) and favourite in the race four defeating Our Pepperjack ($2.00) by a 2.4 metre margin.
The winner recorded a mile rating of 1:57:6 for the 1760 metre race.
The consistent four year old Dawn Of A New Day gelding Dillon ($1.30) continued to keep favourite backers on good terms in race five, defeating Handy Bonus ($26.30) driven by young local driver Blake Micallef who is showing excellent judgement for such a young driver and who has had limited opportunities at this early stage of his career.
Third money was taken home by the Shane Hillier trained Serene Major ($10.00) driven by the more experience John O'Shea.
Another smart 1:58:2 mile rating was recorded by the 12.3 meter winner who has now won eight races from twenty three starts for his owner, breeder Godfrey Bliss who opted to send his good mare Delta Songbird to the impressive stallion Dawn Of A New Day with promising results.
Well bred winner
Frank O'Sullivan made the trip from the national capital with the well bred Mach Three four year old gelding Blackbird Power ($3.30) and brought the son of the good mare Power Player NZ home with a strong finishing burst to defeat Gotta Bewitched ($3.20) favourite for Bill Trembath with the locally trained Crusty ($3.80) for David and Rachael Micallef and Amanda Turnbull claiming third prize.
Margins of 2.2 meters and 2.0. metres respectively coupled with a mile rating of 2:03:7 was boosted by the competitiveness of the 2100 meter race.
Locals hit back
Local trainers at this point decided that the prizemoney should stay in the Young district and set about rectifying the situation.
Owners Peter and Joan Schiller continue to have success with their four year old Stoneridge Regal mare Regal Ashes ($1.80) who showed great stamina in sitting outside the leader and finishing strongly with a convincing 13 meter margin over another locally owned and trained pacer in the imported unusually named Gotta Go Cullen mare Knysna ($13.30) with the Bathurst trained Its A Shakedown ($4.90) finishing a head away third in a race that posted a moderate 2:02.9 mile rate.
Regal Ashes is from the Albert Albert stallion Ashleigh Simone and has now notched up six wins for her owners.
Well judged drive
Local trainer Peter Hansen relegated driving duties to Nathan Tuirnbull in the final race of the night and was not disappointed with his performance with a well judged drive behind the eight year old gelding OK Alright ($2.60) who looked well placed in this race.
Minor place getters A Complicated Lady ($2.30) who started favourite and Alabama Tyson ($12.60) fought out the minor end of the purse in what was another exciting and rewarding race for those loyal to the cause. With nine wins and twenty five placings to his credit and a best winning mile rate of 1:57.4 the daughter of Rollon bigred looks to have a promising future in the breeding barn sometime in the future.
The Young club will race again on Friday night October 21.
Other meetings scheduled for this year are:
November 25, Friday (Night) .
Tuesday, December 6 (Night)
