Top night on track Friday

The opening event resulted in a win for a group of retired local rugby league players when Road To Vagas ($7.50) driven by Canberra reins-man Scott Osmond came from a handy fourth at the bell to circle the field at the 400m marker, running home a final quarter of 30.6 to defeat the more fancied runner Siotada ($4.80). The winner has consistent form in recent weeks being placed at Canberra on three occasions and unplaced only twice in 10 starts.

Favourite backers were not disappointed in the second race of the night when El Gran Senor ($1.60) driven by Amanda Turnbull set the pace throughout in defeating Taylah Studleigh ($7.20) and the fast finishing Ainsleys Dream ($31.00) in a mile rating of 2:01.1 and a winning margin of 5¼ metres. That was a second up run from a spell for the Bettors Delight four-year-old and with two wins prior to that spell has a promising future.

The same could be said for the winner of race three when Amanda Turnbull made it back to back winners with the last start Dubbo winner Taihape Sunset ($1.80) just landing the money from a very determined Special Thoughts ($14.00) driven the perfect race by Blake Micallef. It was an exciting race that had local supporters on their toes for the entire 2100m event. The final two quarters of 28.6 and 28.9 and a narrow neck margin to the winner certainly added to the excitement of the race.

Amanda Turnbull made it a trifecta with Oh I Am The One ($4.10) in his third win from as many starts. Previous wins at Young and Dubbo highlighted the liking for the smaller tracks who has an unusual but rewarding racing action. Placegetters Armbro Chimes ($3.00) and Huge Attitude ($7.20) tried hard to chase the leader down.

Junee reinsman Bruce Harpley certainly has a very nice three-yea- old in his stable at the moment with Some Waratah ($1.40) who showed plenty of class in defeating Studleigh Stride ($30.50) and last start Canberra winner Power To Bolt ($6.00) by a comfortable 4¼ metre margin in race five.  

The Oberon combination of Veronica Fisher and Justin Reynolds caused a minor upset in race six when pole marker Star Play ($5.40) led throughout to defeat the more fancied Rainbow On Fire ($1.90) driven by Amanda Turnbull. The margin to the winner being a neck with a mile rating of 2:03.0 and a final quarter of 29.7.

Some may think that another upset occurred in race seven when Soho Beijing ($14.20) flashed home to defeat the odds on favourite The Rath ($1.80) in race seven. Keen followers of form had no doubt remembered the eye catching third on this track from a second line draw and took no caution to the gate six allocation for the six-year-old gelding who has definitely showed promise over past weeks winning by a comfortable three metre margin.

For the second meeting in a row, Goulburn trainer Neil Day waited until the final race on the program to present Courage Within for an expected win and for the second time he was relegated to second. Courage Within ($4.10) behind the eventual winner, the resuming Canberra trained pacer Lookatmekymay ($6.00) driven by Melissa Hawke. The winner had not raced since July 14, 2017.

Young will race again on Tuesday January 16, 2018.