Locally owned and trained Perfectdistraction blitzed the field to claim the Forbes RSL Sub Branch Diggers Cup at Tuesday’s Anzac Day harness race meeting.
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Driven by Angela Hedges, the five-year-old mare continued trainer Adam Bellach’s run of success in the past 12 months.
Bellach was successful at both Forbes meetings last year and also became one of the few Forbes trainers to train a winner at Menangle with his star pacer Rocknroll Angel successful earlier in the season.
Perfectdistraction, having her third start from a spell, and her best barrier draw for a while, enabled Hedges to hold the lead and rate the mare well in front making her winning move down the back and winning convincingly.
The rest of the program was dominated by the Turnbull clan from Bathurst, with Amanda driving three winners and brother Mitch the other two.
The harness race committee’s attention now turns to Sunday, when the club holds its Carnival of Cups meeting again at Forbes Showground.
After wet and windy conditions for the heats meeting on Tuesday, organisers are hoping the weather gods smile on them on Sunday.
Gates open at midday for the eight-race, full TAB meeting. One of the best canteens in the central west will be in operation and a full bar is available.
In something new for the event, there will be markets throughout the afternoon. If you are interested in having a stall (no coffee, food or drinks as these are available) please email forbesdiggersharnessracing@gmail.com
Sunday’s schedule
The day’s races are:
1. Forbes Shire Council Pace (C0 Only.) 12.47pm
2. Forbes Jockey Club Pace (C0 Only.) 1.21pm
3. S & S Welsh Transport Pace (Pacers) 2.03pm
4. Bob and Bev Parsons Pace (C1 To C2.) 2.37pm
5. Thank you Forbes Diggers Harness Racing Committee and Volunteers 3YO Pace (3C0 To 3C1.) 3.14pm
6. Forbes Services Memorial Club Pace (C0 To C1.) 3.48pm
7. Forbes Livestock and Agency Co and Forbes Sports and Recreation Club Pace (C3 To C4.) 4.17pm
8. Hygain Feeds Pace (C5 Or Better.) 4.45pm
Fields available through Harness Racing NSW.
The day’s main race is the Forbes Services Memorial Club final at 3.48pm.
The race is sure to be keenly contested, the result could be decided in the first few hundred metres with two impressive heat winners in Glenferrie Bazaar and Bold Outlaw drawing barriers 1 and 2.
Undoubtedly it will be a tactical battle between Bathurst’s leading reinspersons in Matt Rue and Amanda Turnbull with both obviously wanting to lead.
It could lead to a very fast race which would give the backmarkers a chance in the end.
Locals in the field include Cyclone Charlie from barrier 4; Elmaur Joy and Classy Package with Digger Shed an emergency.
Digger Shed will be a big chance in Race 3 if he doesn’t get a start in the final.
Tuesday’s results
The Clarrie and Val Robb Memorial, Race 1, was won by Greg’s Legacy driven by Mitch Turnbull.
Greg’s Legacy showed good gate speed to lead, was well rated and ran away for an easy 20 metre success.
Race 2 was the first win of the day for Amanda Turnbull on Saywhat, whose run had to be seen to be believed.
Turnbull wasn’t able to get any closer than three off the fence for the first 800m before outstaying the competition to win by 3 metres.
Pud Woods Memorial, Race 3, went to Glenferrie Bazaar and another strong performance for Amanda Turnbull.
Similar to the previous winner, she did all the hard work in the death seat to prevail in a three-way finish from Abercrombie Lisa and the locally-trained Classy Package.
All three will progress to the final of the Forbes Services Memorial Club Cup on Sunday.
Race 4, the Les Findley Memorial, brought up Amanda Turnbull’s treble of winners as she led all the way with Bold Outlaw, who was first up from a long spell and is sure to be improved in the final on Sunday.
The best run outside the winner was by Digger Shed for local combination Terry Hush and Jason Gaffney who missed the start and flashed home to run a close fourth.
The day’s racing wrapped up with the Neville Pellow Memorial won by Mitch Turbull and Jet On Ice for his father Steve, who enjoyed a good run throughout to grab the two locals Cyclone Charlie and Elmaur Joy.
While the racing was good, the crowd numbers were affected by Tuesday’s wet and windy weather.
It did not affect the Anzac Day commemorations, which went ahead.
World War II veteran Harry Coggin recited The Ode, the national anthem was sung and a horse and sulky bearing flags came onto the track thanks to the Robb family.
