He won at Bunbury with the 2yo Director Whitby.

Woodley has 21 points and leads from Chris Playle with 11 points and 2008 winner Justin Prentice with 10 points.

Playle and Prentice both won races at last night’s Harvey meeting behind Jay Factor and Village Hero respectively.

The 2010 RWWA Rising Stars Series continues this weekend with meetings at Albany (Friday), Northam (Saturday) and Collie (Sunday)

The remaining dates for the 2010 Series follows.

Date Day Club

12th February Friday Albany

13th February Saturday Northam

14th February Sunday Collie

15th February Monday Pinjarra

16th February Tuesday Gloucester Park

22nd February Monday Gloucester Park

23rd February Tuesday Narrogin

27th February Saturday Northam

Each Junior Driver will gain points for driving on the day. Points will be awarded as follows;

  • Competing at the meeting with no concession = 1 point, competing at the meeting with at least one concession used = 3 points
  • Each winner driven on the day will earn 7 points
  • Each 2nd placegetter on the day will earn 2 points
  • Each 3rd placegetter on the day will earn 1 point
The winning Junior Driver at the conclusion of the Saddleworld Rising Stars Series will receive $2,000, second $600 and third $200.

In addition the leading 11 drivers in the Series who hold an A Class licence will be invited to compete in the $25,000 RWWA Rising Stars Invitation Stakes to be held at Gloucester Park on March 12th.

The local contingent will be joined by the 2009 NSW Rising Stars Champion in a ballot for drives in a race that will showcase the best Under 23 drivers in the State.

Albany Club enjoying their best season

With three meetings remaining the Albany Harness Racing Club is riding the crest of a wave with record attendances and the turnovers being well up on last season.

The club has responded to greater horse numbers than previous seasons by self-funding additional races and also providing a fuel subsidy for the connections of horses finishing further back than sixth and thereby not earning stakemoney.

Having an increased crowd at the track is reflected in the average on-course turnover being up some 18.5% on last year while the average TAB turnover off-course is up more than 33% on 2008/09.

The $10,000 Albany Cup, which is the next leg of the RWWA $10000 Community Cups series will be held on February 19th and the final meeting of the season on February 26th.

Alan PARKER