THE HEAT WAS ON

Harness racing made a hot return to the Goulburnpaceway on Thursday afternoon when the warmest day since last summer was complemented by hot performances on the race track and hot turnover figures on the NSW TAB.

Training honours were shared by visiting Menangle based mentor Mark Zohn and local leading trainer Neil Day who each scored a winning double.  The respective stables' success led to young drivers David Morris for Zohn and Amy Day for father Neil to share the driving honours.

The first of Day's wins came virtue of Nolens Volens in the $5,000 Chris Weekes Motorcycle Pace.  Owned by Bruce Treuer, the 3yo Life Sign colt who was having his second start quickly found the lead for Amy Day who then was able to get away with some moderate first half quarters.  Passing the 500m mark the David Hewitt driven Alcohol Free made an impressive sprint from the rear of the field to join the leader approaching the home straight however Nolens Volens carried too many guns and went on to record a comfortable win over Alcohol Free and the favourite Billy Badlands for Neil Day.   

The second of Neil Day's winners came in the main race of the afternoon, the $5,000 Goulburn Soldiers Club Pace.  Prolific winner Saint William who was driven beautifully by Amy secured the coveted one by one position early in the event before surging to the front when entering the home straight on the last occasion.  Quality mares No Malice Alice and Kimberly Street tried valiantly to run down the 6yo Presidential Ball stallion however were left to fight out the minor prizes as Saint William scored a comfortable 3.9m win.  The final 800m was recorded in an impressive 56.9 seconds with the homestraight run against a steady head wind.

The win takes Saint William's prize money total to over $106,000 and a record of 52 starts for 19 wins and 20 minor placed positions.

The first of the Zohn stable's wins came in the $5,000 Goulburn Free Choice Pace for C0 horses.  Lets Do It Again, driven by David Morris was able to take up the running in the middle stages where he remained before racing away to an impressive win over See McAll and Wild Oates.  The second winner for the stable came in the $5,000 Topwater Carters Pace for C3-C5 pacers with the handy mare Stacks Up NZ.  Driver David Morris settled the 6yo Knight Rainbow NZ mare last in the field of seven and in a patient drive the mare sprinted impressively down the back straight before joining the leaders Advancelot and Noelhamric passing the 400.  Three wide through the final bend Stacks Up NZ dived at the leader Noelhamric in the shadows of the post to score a narrow by emphatic win.  In driving rain and wind the winner returned the good mile rate of 2:00.3 with the official winning margin being a head.

Other winners on the programme included You Bet John for Wilton based trainer Michael Dubois, Just Mandrake for veteran trainer Neville Hargraves, Incorruuptible for Phil Willis whilst the last race of the day was taken out by club president Dennis Day with the highly promising One Art Rite who was resuming from seven month break.

Turnover for the 8 race card exceeded $64,000 per race on the NSW TAB and augurs well for future meetings.  'We tried promoting the meeting over SKY Racing Radio and we're encouraged by the results today.  We have a very good sponsor in the Goulburn Soldiers Club, they have help us keep prize money at $5,000 per race though we're only a Level 2 club'.  

The club will conduct its second meeting of the season on Thursday the 10th December before conducting its first feature race since resuming as a race club when the Frank Day Memorial is held on Thursday the 14th January, 2010.  Trainers, drivers and owners of fast class horses (C6 and better) are reminded that the winner of the event will gain automatic inclusion to the $35,000 Cancer Council Canberra Cup, whilst trainers with runners engaged in the Frank Day Memorial will enter a draw on the day for a $1,000 cash prize.