Local Trainers Feature Heavily At Taree
Gary Turner's Shahavanee won the Bushland Tavern Blue Paws Final by nine lengths over the 392m from Remember Pop (Mick McGuire, Taree) and Grandma's Girl (Ray Hindmarsh, South Weston) a further 5.5 lengths third.
The Temmco Novice Final over the 314m was won by Amber Ally for Nabiac's Helen Hanson in a close finish by 1.25 lengths from Tiri Pete (Narelle Turner, Mt George) and Miss Kinja (Brian Smoothy, Killawarra) a half length third.
Other local winners were Kerry Schmitzer with Osti's Fella, Shirley Lawson with Al's Bomb, Irene Wales with Cosmic Light, Barry Harmey with Violet Joan and Keith Schmitzer with Miss Keena.
Bud Sannette had a big run for Wherrol Flat's Kevin Johnson winning the Keen 2 Screen Presidents Plate over the 537m in the near record time of 30.72 seconds from Wallamba Jacqui (Bob Glover, Nabiac) and Tiger's Way (Nathan Bayly, Wauchope).
The Taree Upholstery Stakes Best 8 over 392m was won by New South Baz for Nabiac's Glen McLean in a very tight finish from Brian Smoothy's Super Charlotte and Vicki Byrnes' Half A Buccaneer (Kempsey) with the margins a half length by a neck.
At the annual presentation held on Saturday night the premier award of trainer of the year went to Helen Hanson with Larry Croker awarded the male trainer of the year.
Starbird, winning the bitch of the year, capped off a super year for Hanson and New South Baz won the dog of the year for Glen McLean.
New South Baz, four years old and racing mainly locally these days, is a wonderful competitor, with career statistics of 108 starts, 27 wins, 28 seconds and 10 thirds totaling $42,845 in prizemoney .
Courtesy : Mick McDonald, Manning River Times