Night time racing is proving to be very popular, with another top meeting that produced some very close finishes and a couple of locally trained winners.
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Racing opened with the John Vautin-trained Bold Western returning to the winners' circle with the fast finishing horse scoring his third win for owner-breeder Len Bush.
Tulhurst Terror made a forward move after being ninth at the bell to finish second, with race favourite Cobbity Conquest filling the minor placing in a close finish that resulted in a half-neck margin in favour of the winner.
It was Bold Western's second win in six starts and third overall in a 37-start career.
Bathurst regular Nathan Turnbull took full advantage of the pole position to take Hardliner to the front from the start, and sustained a moderate pace throughout to defeat favourite Cuzin Pat and the unlucky Ideal Billy, who was not afforded luck in running and will be close to a win shortly in a similar type of race.
Local driver Blake Micallef was handed the driving honours on the Gemma Rue-trained Smiling Sam and he did not disappoint, with a well timed move from an outside line position at the bell to hold off a determined finish from the well-supported The Narrator and backmarker Lettuce Pray. The winning margin of short a half head and a winning mile rate of 1:57.9 reflected the competitiveness of the race.
Nathan Turnbull again showed his affinity for the Young track with a polished display to secure Billysbredone another win over Courageous Tom and early leader Saucy Dreams in another tight finish. The margin of 11-and-a-half metres in favour of the winner and the head between second and third made for another exciting finish on what was a perfect night for racing.
Possibly the easiest win of the night was seen in race five, when last start Young winner Hart By The Beach posted a seven metre victory over Coffee Bay and Hey Suzie in a small six horse field. The three year old filly has an impressive record of two wins and a third from only four starts and her future at this early stage looks promising.
Trainer Glenn Wilmot almost made it a back-to-back winning double but that was not meant to be with David McKenzie driving the perfect race, getting Propa Rock Star over the line after leading throughout to defeat Rock This Way in a heart stopping half head margin, with Julenjode finishing third in a thrilling end to another top night of harness racing.
Young will race again on Friday afternoon, November 15, followed by a night meeting on Tuesday, November 19.
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