The first to go down was 4-Y-0 mare Scarlett Finn ($1.40) in the Buloke Sand & Soil Pace for C0 class over 2100 metres taken out by 4-Y-0 Presidential Ball/Majestic Moth mare Macy Lila.

Leading out from gate two, Scarlett Finn was shadowed by Macy Lila (gate six) for most of the journey, overpowering the leader on straightening to score easily in a rate of 2-05.4 over Scarlett Finn which offered no resistance on straightening, with Sports Express a mile back in third place.

Bred and raced by Maryborough's Len and Irene Parker, Macy Lila is trained at Eaglehawk (Bendigo) by veteran Don Ritchie and was driven by former Charltonian Neil McCallum.

Junortoun trainer Gary Donaldson received some consolation for the defeat of Scarlett Finn, when 4-Y-0 Falcon Seelster/Eilish Mary mare Halfa Falcon led throughout in the Donald Newsagency Pace for C0 class over 2100 metres with Ararat's Michael Bellman in the sulky.

Leading easily from gate two, Halfa Falcon was always travelling under a tight rein and bounded away on turning to win in a breeze from the trotter Jaspers Surprise which trailed and Breakmyheart in a rate of 2-03.7.

The $2.20 favourite Paris Lady dropped out after racing in the open.

Four year old Muscles Yankee/So Brite Right entire Outmuscle appeared on paper to be one of the best bets on the program in the www.bevsbaublesjewellery.com Trotters Handicap for TR0 or better class over 2100 metres, but he too went down at Supertab odds of $1.20, with the victor Adams Crown coming off a 30 metre backmark.

Trained and driven by Ashley Matthews from Havelock on the outskirts of Maryborough, Adams Crown trailed Outmuscle three back in the moving lane throughout and when taken wide on straightening, sprouted wings to blowse the leader Hazzassassin by a nose, with Outmuscle a half neck away in third place.

The mile rate 2-04.6.

Long odds-on favourite Stuck Up ($1.50) became buried three back along the markers from his pole position in the Buloke Times Pace for C1 & C2 class, never raising his supporters hopes for the entire race, with 4-Y-0 Safely Kept/Reign Of Wisdom gelding Absolootmagic gaining the day in a rate of 1-59.

Trained at Lockwood South (Bendigo) by Tony and Mary Dillon, Absolootmagic driven by Hamilton based Rod Barker faced the breeze from gate three for the entire journey, before dashing to the front on turning and comfortably holding his rivals at bay in defeating The Birchipian which trailed the leader Arveesix using the sprint lane on straightening, with Roydon Chester third after racing wide for the final circuit.

Maiden Gully (Bendigo) trainer/driver Paul Campbell's 4-Y-0 Astreos/Thebeautifulsouth gelding It And A Bit was a raging $1.20 favourite in the Liston Landers Pace for C1 & C2 class over 2100 metres, but gave his supporters heart flutters when he galloped away wildly from gate two, settling a long last.

Given time to catch his breath, It And A Bit was sent forward to park outside the polemarker pacemaker The Brownhouse Kid mid-race and was going to have to produce something special to score.

When the leader kicked away on turning, favourite backers were ready to give up, however It And A Bit rallied in the shadows of the post to gain the judge's nod by a nose in a tricky finish, with Live N Reality third from three back along the markers.

The mile rate 1-59.5.

The pockets of punters were almost dry by the time the Weirs IGA Donald Pacing Cup came up, with 4-Y-0 Kiwi bred Rustler Hanover/Ingas Star gelding Dual Agent Tabman a stablemate of It And A Bit a pronounced $1.70 favourite.

Taking over shortly after the start from gate two, Dual Agent Tabman was given an easy time till the bell, when Anthony Crossland sooled Twisted Firestarta forward from last with a rush to join the favourite and keep him honest for the entire last lap.

Still in front on turning, Dual Agent Tabman was gathered in by Senor Banderas along the sprint lane, then Ay Tee Em out wide, with Ay Tee Em doing best to score in a rate of 1-58 over Senor Banderas, with Dual Agent Tabman a creditable third.

A 4-Y-0 Mach Three/Atomic Fusion mare who was outstanding in her three year old season, Ay Tee Em part-owned, trained and driven by Goornong's Peter Salathiel, chalked up her 8th success in 40 race appearances.

Len BAKER