Bobs Farm harness racing trainer Geoff Harding loves coming to Dubbo but needed to secure a couple of winners to make it worth the 400-kilometre trip.
He got exactly that on Tuesday night as he grabbed three winners during the Boxing Night meeting at Dubbo Harness Racing Club.
Rocknlachlan, Sackheim, and Strathlachlan Andy all saluted while Trijet also came home in third.
Harding said they had come expecting some success.
“It’s too far to come for just a joy ride,” he said.
“I reckon Dubbo’s a great little half-mile track and it’s even better when you win on it.”
The night couldn’t have gotten off to a better start for Harding.
His son Matthew was in the gig for the $3500 Radio 2DU/Zoo FM Pace (1720 metres) for three-year-olds and older, with Rocknlachlan proving far too strong for the rest.
The three-year-old gelding started from barrier four as the $2.10 favourite ahead of the Wayne Grey-trained and driven Shadow Dealer at $2.50.
Shadow Dealer and Bee Bee Elle ($32.90) took the early lead, while the younger Harding was content to sit behind and take it easy.
They covered the first half of the last mile in 60.4 seconds before Barry Lew’s Karloo Jonno ($84) tried to get in on the action. As they greeted the bell he went three-wide but wasn’t able to get around the leaders before the bend.
He had to do plenty of work and along the back straight his challenge began to fade.
At the same time, Rocknlachlan’s was only just beginning. He moved three wide as they came onot the home straight and raced away to claim a comfortable victory by 4.5 metres in a mile rate of 2:00.2.
Shadow Dealer was second ahead of Michael Pay’s I’m Super Sophie ($12). Harding’s second runner Ruffalo ($16) just missed out on a placing.
“We thought he could win,” his trainer said afterwards.
“He had a good run. Hopefully he can keep improving. If he improves a bit more he might make a handy horse.”
Harding said he was preparing the Rock N Roll Heaven x Strathlachlan Kay progent for the Evolution Race Series at Newcastle.
The meeting got better as Sackheim won the Ron Hoy Memorial (1720m) as a $1.80 favourite, ahead of Shazam Shannon ($10.90) and Barkway Arnold ($3.80).
Harding’s treble came with Strathlachlan Andy’s victory as $1.30 favourite in the Tab.com.au Pace (1720m), beating Koloura Flight ($50.40) and Smart Major ($28.70) to the post.
By Mark Rayner