ARARAT - The region's trainers and drivers were well represented at last Saturday night's 63rd annual Ararat Harness Racing Club Pacing Cup.
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No more so than in race eight, the Kevin and Colleen Smith Pace where Great Western trained and driven horses collected first and second and Peter Manning trained horses snatched the fifth and seventh placings.
Talented pacer Gotta Go Yanky NZ went into the race as the one to beat and driver/trainer Kerryn Manning made sure that eventuated.
She was followed across the line by the Michelle Wright trained and driven veteran campaigner Wheatsheaf Avaball which found some spark to place second.
Driver Jason Lee took the Peter Manning trained Garabaldi Union to fifth and Jodi Quinlan drive on Boyz Torque was disappointing at seventh.
The VSTA Trotters Cup (3rd Heat) was more positive for Quinlan as she coasted exceptionally gifted four year old trotter Glenferrie Typhoon to a win in race three.
Rumbustious, another exciting four year old came second and the Great Western Warren Bird trained and Jason Lee driven Looks a Moral finished third.
Kerryn Manning drove the Peter Manning trained Hackashaq to fifth place and Greg Sugars with the Michael Collins trained Cancutthemustard couldn't quite live up to its namesake in eighth place.
Local hopes were again present in the Collins Family Pace, but weren't a feature in the placings as pre-race favourite Strong as Arma finished in front of the pack.
Michael Sullivan driven and Owen Martin trained Longtan Tigerman crossed the line fifth as Navarre's Marnie Bibby drove Blude Muster to seventh and the trainer/driver combination of Armstrong's Danny and Leroy O'Brien Ima Village finished ninth.
In the Angelique Club VICbred Platinum Mares Sprint Championship (18th Heat) Ararat's Michael Bellman celebrated a third place with Emma Hablin driving Mango Silhouette to the placing.
Mango Silhouette was bettered by Illawong Joyful in first place and Desiring Kate in second.
In race nine The Ararat Advertiser 3YO Trot Glenferrie Dash did just that to finish in front of handy customer Law Legend (2nd) and Michaels Mename (3rd).
Peter Manning trained and Kerryn Manning driven I Belong finished just outside the placings at fourth.
The result was replicated in the final race of the night as Kerryn drove the Michelle Wright trained Aheadofhistime to another fourth placing in the Back To The Rat Pace.
It was an open result as outsider Atticus Finch finished first ahead of the Brooke Hansen (Armstrong) trained Rose Devine and Keayang Left Hook which bullied forward for third.
The Mannings again finished out of placing contention in the John and Diane Canty Pace.
Kerryn Manning trained and driven Suerte NZ finished fifth while Michael Gadsen drove the Peter Manning trained Valentino Rustler to eighth place.
Galleons Warrior NZ was an unlikely winner, finishing ahead of Amberlu Angus in second and fast beginner Urban Shadow at third.
Rounding out the evening the Barry Finnid trained and Jayson Finnis driven Top Share took out top prize in the Milton and Pat McKinnis 3YO Pace.
It was followed across the line by Little Lyn (2nd) and Lohi Liz (3rd).
Ararat Harness Racing president, Tony Bond said the club was happy with the turnout trackside with the competitive racing making for another entertaining night.