Exciting race program at Warragul

Several of the races run at Warragul on Monday could lay claim to being the most exciting harness racing contest of the afternoon.

Capacity fields in most races, and even contests produced strong racing all day.

Local start Professor Tom's six in a row winning streak came to an end in the fourth race, courtesy of a brilliant front-running drive by Zac Phillips with Franco Jameson.

Well rated in the lead, Franco Jameson kept on fighting, and defeated his four rivals in track record time, slicing just over half a second off the time standard previously shared by Grins Rendition and Ymbro Toto.

Franco Jameson had been unlucky in strong recent races, and has now collected nine wins from just 26 starts for trainer Adam Kelly.

A capacity field of twelve contested the Trotters' Handicap, and not one runner galloped for the entire 2210 metre distance.

Uetliberg, from a back mark of 40 metres behind, produced a strong finish to defeat local Innocent Fling right on the line, with Ghent placing third in a race where only two metres separated the first six horses.

Pearcedale's Simone Walker collected a popular training double, with Redand Blue Fella and Little Bit Sassy both successful.

Redand Blue Fella is raced on lease from the Kucks family by Andrew Walker, while Little Bit Sassy is owned by a large group of Cranbourne based harness fans.

Two heats of the annual Ken Miller Memorial Pace saw runners competing for a place in the rich Final at Warragul on June 5.

Young trainer Charlene Gusman produced All My Savings to win the first heat, courtesy of a well judged drive by Lisa Miles.

All My Savings now has two wins on the board from 25 starts.

Diamond Jasper also won her second race in winning the other heat, for trainer Paul Grech and driver Nathan Jack.

Mario Azzopardi and Charlie Borg combined with Irish Player, which gained a start after scratchings, to win race two, while short priced favourite Beau Reve won her second race in as many Warragul meetings for trainer Jayne Davies and driver Greg Sugars in race seven.

Kyle Galley