Skewbald pacer Magnolia Drive, winner of the opening race at Warragul last Thursday.IT was a good day’s racing at Thursday’s Warragul harness meeting, highlighted by the inaugural Palate Of Passions Pace.
The race was run with the support of the Gippsland Gourmet Country Tourism Association, whose members were in attendance to celebrate the day.
The event was won by Gippsland pacer Dance Of The Deity that looked a better chance on paper than his rivals, after a strong recent win at Ballarat.
However, driver Jodi Quinlan didn’t have things all her way during the race, but in the end proved too good.
The win bought up a consecutive race double for Jodi, who also drove Parwan Rocket to win race three.
Another impressive winner was Striding Edge in the Gippsland Gourmet Country Trotters Handicap.
The Toolern Vale horse made all the running in front and scored comfortably.
It was a similar story with Matter Of Interest in race two that scored in strong fashion.
Skewbald mare Magnolia Drive scored an upset win in the opening event, as the 20/1 outsider in a fivehorse race.
Such coloured horses are quite rare in harness racing, although a grey horse, Mahataraj, also competed on the day.
Trafalgar horseman Chris Hunter produced two handy performers on the program, in Blue Rock and Valderee. Both horses should continue to race consistently in coming weeks.
The track raced in excellent fashion all day on Thursday and preparations are now in full swing for Warragul’s next meeting on Easter Sunday afternoon, 8 April, featuring the $25,000 Warragul Cup.
