First win in fifteen starts for Corporal Jujon

With the current situation as it is, the patronage of the ten race harness racing program held last Tuesday night at The Young Raceway was virtually a none even as far as spectators were concerned but the harness racing was again of the highest standard.

The opening race was taken out by Scaramucci for Greg Rue who came from sixth at the bell to run down Studleigh Paul.

With an intermittent blackout, the second race did become a little bland to say the least but the race continued with the well supported Renee Dale for Mat Rue taking advantage of the one back trail to finish strongly.

The Bathurst flag continued to fly in race three when Gold Onyx driven by Emma Turnbull out drove her male counterparts by securing a clear run in the straight to overhaul the more fancied Bid For Red.

Bigga trainer Dennis Picker produced a handy type with the Sportwriter gelding Showem Simon in race four. Having the advantage of the pole position, the $2 favourite went straight to the lead and was never headed.

Local driver John Vautin was entrusted with the Steve Jones (Bathurst) trained Why Not Surf in the following race and he did not disappoint his owners with a strong win over outsider Hard To Love and the Temora trained Temora Reactor.

Probably the most gratifying result of the night was in race six when Corporal Jujon, driven by Peter McRae returned to the winners circle with a welcome return to form for the Glen Schiller trained veteran pacer. Not having won in fifteen previous starts, the seven-year-old gelding produced his best form to arrive just in time to defeat Limbo Larry and Presidentialattack by 11/4 metres in a very exciting finish.

It was the turn of the Goulburn trainers to show their form and Amy Day did just that with the well supported Neptunes Warrior who sat six mid race before coming home in 30.8 to overcome Light Up Lilly and early pacemaker Cruzin Scott, once again the judge kept on his toes with margins of head by short 1/2 head going into the record books.

The baton was then again passed to the Bathurst contingent and trainer Graham Betts breasted the tape first with Negative Nancy who, like Corporal Jujon and others, had not collected a winners cheque for some time and the reward was more than welcoming.

By Stuart Maxwell

Reprinted with permission of The Young Witness