The strength of the Goulburn District as a harness racing hub was clearly evident following last Monday night’s whitewash of the 8 race card offered by the Canberra harness racing club at Epic.
Leading the way was Goulburn’s club president Dennis Day who scored a winning double with the ever consistent Whatifwhynot and the three year old filly Serene Highness.
Starting a $2.50 favourite in the $3000 Dyson Digital Video heat over 2170m, the 4yo bay gelding made light work of his second row draw to win convincingly from the Dennis Picker trained and driven Sneaky Catch. In the process Whatifwhynot secured his spot in this evening’s $6,000 final where he has drawn barrier 10.
Serene Highness, a 3yo Famous Forever filly kicked off her 3yo season by taking out the $3,000 ACT PA Hire Pace over 1770m. Starting at the good price of $11.50, Serene Highness jumped straight to the front where she led throughout to score comfortably from Neil Day’s Whereyawheeliebin.
Bigga based Dennis Picker scored a driving double by steering Little Kicker, a 5yo Our Sir Vancelot mare which he trains, to an easy win in the opening event. He followed that up by driving the Pat Bourke trained Cobbity Commander to an impressive win in the $6,000 ACTTAB C0 final. For Cobbity Commander the win was first of his 21 race career.
Other winners on the night included Sticky Situation for Garrett Newton who has only recently transferred to the Goulburn area, Illtelyawat for Neil Day; Dark Phantom for Michael Day whilst the last on the night was taken out by the David Hewitt trained Western Burn.
The Canberra Club will hold another 8 race programme this evening and whilst another whitewash performance is not possible, locally trained horses are highly likely to score wins in the majority of race. The strongest chances appear to be the Dennis Picker pair of Condagen in race 1 and Sneaky Catch in race 2, the $6,000 Dyson Digital Video final for C2 to C3 horses.
Racing at the Goulburn Paceway returns on Monday afternoon the 14th May, when the club will hold a number of feature races. Highlighting the programme will be the $15,000 3yo Breeders Challenge heats for the 3yo colts and geldings, and fillies. Other races include the $10,000 Goulburn Sapling Stakes for 2yo pacers, $7,000 heats of the C0/1 and C2/3 Menangle Country Series and the $7,000 Tom Hewitt Memorial. With such wonderful prize money on offer the club is hopeful of a top quality programme providing the excitement of harness racing to its many fans in rural NSW.
