Harness racing under lights will return to the Young Paceway tonight with another fantastic meting to commence at the earlier time of 5.38pm. This will allow patrons to take in both the annual Cherry Festival activities and the excitement of a ten race programme that will include the running of the 2018 Trimech Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Cherry Festival Cup.
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This race has once again attracted a top field of pacers to contest the 2100 metre $12,750 event including two last start winners and a number of pacers who have won races within their last three starts.
Georges Plains trainer Bernie Hewitt has certainly set his four year old gelding Mackeral for this annual outing. With a recent Blayney win when resuming from a spell and an impressive third at Menangle last time out, this looks the ideal race and with a favourable barrier draw looks the winner.
Million Dollar Gem has won two from three and is a last start Junee winner over a similar distance to this and should be running on, while the Amanda Turnbull nominee Jonah Jones is a winner of twelve races in his career with a Penrith win rating 1:58.5 on November 1 will be in the firing line when heads are turned for home.
Others with strong claims include Leakys Smoken whop has won two from three at Junee and Griffith and lets not forget the pole marker Ned Pepper who ran an enormous race at Menangle last start, beaten only four metres with a winners mile rate of 1:52.6 to the eight year olds credit and a Griffith Pacers Cup win three starts back.
Racing opens with 1720 sprint and Katie Jenner may provide the winner with Can I Be A Lady from gate four.
The four year old mare had no luck when caught out three wide at Dubbo last start and was gallant in defeat, her third at Parkes previously was also an eye catching run. Don’t Call Me is an eight year old maiden performer who has not raced since finishing third at Canberra on 22 nd January but is from a very astute stable.
Smoken Alice has a nice draw but is yet to show her talents being from the well performed mare Burning Staure she has had only the five race starts for Mark Hewitt, while Four Starzz Chef is a new addition to the Peter Schiller stable but could show up here.
The second race gives Pocket Of Terror an opportunity to bounce back here following a good second at Bankstown last start, prior to that he was a Canberra winner rating 1:59.5 and the draw should suit. David Druitt has the resuming Lenas Art engaged here, she is resuming but had good form prior with wins at Young and Wagga before a close third last time out.
A Good Ideal for Ray Turner ran home well at Junee last week when second while Mo Farah was well backed at Canberra last time out when resuming but was caught outside the leader early before sustaining a flat tyre. Revonah Dolly recorded a surprise win first up for her new trainer before finishing third last start at Canberra and could be in the mix in this.
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An eye catching run by Gold Onyx at Canberra last week should see the Shadowplay gelding break through for a well deserved win under the guidance of Jimmy Brown. With placing at his last four starts, the time looks right to record his seventh win for his Cowra owner and trainer. Dangers to the expected race favourite include last start winner Nova Time, Lorenzo Shannon for Peter Bullock and Lettucefireharvey for David Kennedy and Blake Jones.
Race four looks to suit the Bruce Harpley trained Innocent Crocker who has drawn well and as excellent recent form. Bruce likes to lead and is drawn to do that although pressure will come from Hunza Valley and Miss Elly May from the Stephen Maguire stable. Both these runners have good recent form with the other main contender, Lucky To Make It has drawn badly but should be running on.
Race five looks a hard race on paper, Trump The Ace for Glen Judd could be the favoured run from an outside draw. His Griffith form is good with a win and a second under his belt and an improvement on those runs is well within his reach. The Rockets Son is a last start winner at Dubbo when resuming and may be able to put wins back to back here with some luck in running.
Prince Potter ran an eye catching third at Shepparton last time out and was a winner at Wagga in October, certainly a big chance in this very open race. David Druitt is a very good front running driver and Saucy Dreams is the horse to do it although drawn out wide. Once the field settles, you can expect him to go forward and dictate term, a win certainly on the cards. Her dangers are last start Junee winner Anodoubt and his stablemate Ellen Louise who is also a last start winner at Junee and these two John Cooper trained pacers could quite easily fill the major placings.
With the cup run and won, attention turns to race eight and the chance for Mister Donald, trained by Mr. Saul Duck (seriously) from Junee to take home the bacon over the locally trained Stylish Grin who was out of position in the score up at Canberra last week when running home for a gallant third. The Griffith trained aptly named Luckie has a 100 per cent record winning at his only start when driven by David Kennedy at Junee last week and he could maintain that record with some luck here over the 1720 metre journey.
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Of the other runners, Hit The Track for Nathan Turnbull could be “The Smokey” following two excellent runs since resuming. The penultimate event could give Bruce Harpley a winning double with Kellys Ideal coming from a wide gate following a win two starts back. The Western Ideal four year old was impressive winning at Temora prior to finishing third when checked at the bell behind Cruzen Scott at Junee last start.
Dangers to the Junee trained gelding include Traces Of Tara for Blake Jones, this mare broke in running last start but was a winner prior and can improve. The Canberra trained Em Powered has good recent form running second last start while Little Archie could surprise at long odds. The curtain will come down just after 10:30 pm with the running of race ten. The club did stage a ten race programme at this meeting last year, that meeting finishing at 11:30pm.
The final race is certainly a lottery, many chances, no likely stand out favourite and everyone in with a chance. A quick shuffle of the deck sees Courageous Ways the selection from any other runner, this four year old mare won at Canberra three starts back and has since finished just behind the placegetters at Griffith and Temora.
Milliondollar Day should lead and is a chance, Tubbee Tee is also a noted leader and his last outing was a failure at Shepparton but will improve here with Zoes Regal a place chance.
