It was certainly a case of the locals “getting the chocolates” as they raced in the shadows of the famous Junee Licorice Factory last Friday night. Harness racing followers converged on mass to the Junee paceway to witness another great night of racing that resulted in some sweet results for those that followed the fortunes of some locally trained pacers.
Recent Parkes winner Knysna, driven by Matt McCaffery ran an excellent race to finish third behind the fancied Bernie Hewitt trained Allnight Mlady in the first heat of the $25,000 AGL Energy Tabcorp Park Menangle Where Horses Fly Country Series Heat, with the final to be run on Saturday, November 26.
Race four was the second heat of the series with the winner, locally owned Mygirljo for Ian Butt and trainer David Hewitt. The five year old Jeremes Jet gelding recorded his fifth win from 22 starts, his second for his new owner since his win at Parkes on August 7.
The recently acquired Victorian pacer Shady Shadow recorded one of the easiest wins in the final race of the night for owners Peter and Glenn Schiller. Driven by Nic Dewar, the $1.90 favourite gave her backers no cause for concern. The five year old Shadow Play mare handled the tight Junee track with perfection, recording a comfortable win, her second in her thirty two start career.
Internet shopping is proving to be very popular within the harness racing fraternity with a number of pacers being purchased online at what appears to be a reasonable price with a quick return almost assured on their modest investments.
Junee will conduct another meeting next Friday night at which a number of local pacers will be looking to continue their success from over recent weeks.
Blayney held the first of a double header last Sunday afternoon with two local pacers engaged in the seven race program. Both Billy King and Arrived In Time finished out of a place in their respective races. Next weekend will see the running of the 2016 Carnival Of Cups.
Last Thursday night saw the running of the Lexus Of Parramatta PJ Hall Memorial run at Penrith Paceway with two interesting runners fighting out the finish of the penalty free 2125 metre event. The imported and aptly named Parramatta ($1.80) driven by Amanda Turnbull won the race. Both of these horses would be eligible for the forthcoming 2016 Young Cherry Festival Cup to be run on Friday night 25th November. Amanda has already won the Cherry Festival Cup on two occasions, 2011 with the free legged pacer Avonova and in 2013 with the now retired grey pacer Im Blue double Dee.
