There is a lot on the line at Parkes

This Sunday's harness racing meeting at the Parkes Harness Racing Club is highlighted by a red-hot field contesting the Garrards Ironhorse Series Final.

The field is dominated by Bathurst runners, filling eight of the 10 spots, with CARIBBEAN JACK the sole local runner for Parkes' Kevin Medlyn. Dubbo's Lex Bramble will have IM ALRITE running, who was last in the winners circle on July 26 on his home track.

The race is for horses that have accumulated the most number of points at meetings run at the Parkes and Dubbo tracks in the 2019/20 season. All runners must have started at least once at each venue to be eligible, with the winning trainer to receive a Rio Meteor Racing Sulky.

The Nathan Hurst trained GABBYS SPORTSTAR is the highest rated runner in the race despite not registering a win since June 28, though Hurst has two other small chances in the race with TULHURST LOVER and GABBYS IDEAL.

Star three-year-old gelding BELL RIVER BOY returns to his favourite track fresh off a dominant win in the Garrards Rio Meteor Gig Final, and the Josh Turnbull runner will be looking for his fourth win in six starts at Parkes and second consecutive feature win.

A strong field has also been assembled for the Langlands Hanlon Horse of the Year Pace, with three highly rated Parkes runners starting from the back row, while Forbes' Phillip Thurston will be hoping FOR ALL WE KNOW can repeat her win here on August 2.

Those runners will face some stiff competition in the form of talented Oberon gelding HEADLINE HUNTER, who will be looking for a remarkable fourth win in a row on Sunday with concession driver Justin Reynolds aboard.

The Cunninghams IGA Leading Trainer Pace will see Forbes' Gary Eyre look to capitalise on KARINYA JUDE'S recent four placings in five starts at some massive odds, up against three last start winners.

Alectown's Stan Townsend has three runners engaged in the meeting as he looks to keep touch with the two Hutchings in the Byrne Clothing Leading Local Trainer award, and with just two points separating the three trainers it really is anyone's game.

Parkes' Brett Hutchings currently sits comfortably atop the Byrne Clothing Leading Local Driver standings, and it looks like he will have a drive in all seven races on Sunday in addition to training four runners, highlighted by the in-form SHEZ ON TARGET.

The first race will start at 1.09pm.

By Kristy Williams

Reprinted with permission of the parkeschampionpost