ARARAT - Reinsman Matthew Craven drove three winners at the Ararat Harness Racing Club's February meeting at the Russell T White Raceway.
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Craven got off to the best possible start with victory in the Ron Emerson three-year-old pace, edging out pre-race favourite Mad Robber in a tight finish.
After finishing sixth in race two, which was won by gelding Rumbustious, Craven was back on the winners' list in race three.
He guided $11 outsider Mister Coggins first past the post, again edging out the pre-race favourite.
In race four it was the Great Western father-daughter combination of Peter Manning and Michelle Wight that got the job done with Boyz Torque ahead of the Kerryn Manning-trained and driven Electric Ollie. Craven was again in the placings, this time in third with Peter Manning's other runner Valentino Rustler.
Craven could have ended up with a quadrella for the night, but narrowly missed out on the win in race five when Ellen Tormey in the sulky behind Tres Hombres NZ snatched victory by half a head from his charge Our Uptown Girl.
Despite the second placing the Craven show rolled on the following race with eight-year-old Vice Operative saluting ahead of Xavier Jack and Strong As Arma.
Race seven saw Mount Gambier father-son duo Barry and Jason Finnis score the win with Flaming Hero, while Big Boy Blue finished the night off with victory in race eight, the Harvey Norman Pace over 1790 metres.
The night also saw the Ararat Harness Racing Club present awards to trainers and drivers for the 2013 harness season.
Peter Manning was named the Leading Trainer, while the Trotters' Award was tied between two horses, Idol Suntime trained by Michelle Wight and Heza Maori trained by Manning.
Concession Driver of the Year went to Jayson Finnis and Horse of the Year was Hector Barbossa, trained by Barry Finnis.
The Leading Driver honour once again went to Great Western's Kerryn Manning.