NATHAN Hurst put his foot on the gas from the start and that was the end of the section as Tangles cruised to an easy win in The Daily Liberal Three-Year-Old Pace (1720m) at Dubbo on Wednesday night.
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The $2.40 favourite was first out from her three draw when the field was released and Bathurst-based Hurst dictated terms from there on.
"She's definitely a filly with ability," he said after the race.
"Her gate speed was evident tonight and she went really well. When that happened I was confident she could go on with job.
"Last week (at Bathurst when second) they attacked her and didn't give her any peace.
"I think she's getting better each week and that's also pleasing."
Tangles dominated the late betting with some money for the Steve Turnbull-trained pair So Cool Harry and Bettor Be Red - but both failed to fire and finished down the track.
When Hurst released the brakes in the final stages for a smart last quarter time of 28.5 seconds, there was no stopping the filly who posted an outstanding mile rate of 1:58.5 which was impressive, given that the Dubbo track record for the distance is 1:57.4 set by Steve Turnbull's smart performer Slick Bromac back in 2011.
Tangles has now won three races from 11 starts and with six minor placings has been a consistent race horse.
Of the others, it was an impressive run from the John Lew-trained Spruce It Up ($9.60) driven by John O'Shea, beaten 5.1 metres into second place, with third going to Pinegrove ($18.60, Emma Turnbull).
Spruce It Up, owned by breeder Frank Hession in Dubbo, was camped on the pegs behind Tangles for most of the journey and didn't see daylight till the closing stages - but was never going to trouble the winner.
Pinegrove's run for third was also impressive and the Wendy Turnbull-trained gelding was forced to race outside the leader facing the breeze at the bell and held on well for another minor placing.
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Meanwhile, long-time Dubbo trainer-driver, Garry Edwards continued his successful comeback to racing with a tradesman's like win behind Raging Rhuben.
Trained by Wendy Turnbull at Bathurst, the four-year-old entire started $2.60 favourite and won the Wheels On Bourke Dubbo versus Bathurst Drivers Invitational Pace (2120m).
And Nathan Hurst finished with a winning double when he piloted the Lester Hewitt, Bathurst-trained Goin So Fast ($3.90) to an impressive 18 metres win in the Dubbo Harness Racing Club Life Members Pace (2120m).
But one of the highlights for Dubbo stables came when Jordan Reynolds won his first race as a driver when Casino On Ice won at $26.70 - a horse trained by his father Peter.
It was also Amanda Turnbull's birthday on Wednesday and she finished with a win on $1.40 favourite President Jones, trained by Mark Butler.