There was a good crown in attendance to see Bathurst reinswoman Emma Turnbull at her very best on Wednesday night at the Parkes Harness Racing Club (PHRC) meeting.
Emma drove three winners on the night with her first being the Terry Hush trained Chief Fairman in the Dwyer's Fresh Meat Pace. Settling 3 back along the pegs early, Turnbull waited to the 400-metre mark to make her move and then overhaul the leader Catch Your Breath to win by a head.
Emma's other two winners were both trained by mother Wendy, and both were short priced favourites that won very impressively. The wraps were big on NZ import Tuapeka Glory and rightly so as he raced away after a hard run to win the Greg Hando Appreciation Pace. He rated a fast 1:58.8. It was a real family affair as the winner is owned by Emma's aunt, Gail Osborne.
In the Telescope Tyres Pace , Jethros An Eagle looked to be in trouble when he was caught on the fence at the 300 metres and with no where to go, but Emma extricated him away from the pegs and he rushed down the outside of the tract to just beat stable mates Octavia Shannon and Ladyjoanna Shannon.
The owners of The Ides of March were very vocal and happy group when their 2yo fought back gamely to win the Parkes Leagues Club 2yo Pace. In a stirring battle the full length of the home straight The Ides Of March's winning margin was a half head from Josephine Brook, with only a head away in third, Allwaysonourmind.
Other winners on the night were:
Our Castena who led throughout in the Toohey's Is Best Pace for leading driver Mat Rue.
Perfectdistractionn, trained by Adam Bellach, led for the entire journey for driver Angela Hedges in the Club Dubbo Garrards Golden Gig Heat. At odds of almost 60 to 1, it was a god effort by this mare.
Loves the Show NZ, trained and driven by popular horseman Kel Winnell in the Parkes Farm Centre Pace.
The other winner of the night was Son Of A Virgin for trainer and driver Mark Hewitt in the Col Fletcher Ford 3yo Pace.
The PHRC will now have an 8-week break and the next meeting will be on Sunday, June 19th 2016.