BATHURST trainer Steve Turnbull capped off a wonderful new year's carnival at Parkes by adding another three winners to his tally at the club's Elvis Festival meeting on Wednesday evening.
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This took the number of winners he trained over the three nights to 13 from the 26 races conducted and among those wins on Wednesday were the two feature events on the program, the TAB.com.au Elvis Series Final (2040m) and the Medlyn's and Castrol Gig Series Final (1660m).
But in a rare situation, the winner of the Elvis Final was driven by stand-in reinsman Nathan Hurst who drove the outsider of Steve's four finalists Padabing Stride ($38.80).
Hurst is no stranger to the winner's circle at Parkes but he rarely drives for stables outside his own.
However he was happy to have been given the opportunity to take the reins on the Emilio and Mary Rosati owned entire and he drove the perfect race to guide the five-year-old to a solid three-and-a-half metre win.
After getting him away fast, Hurst found cover with 1200 metres to run and then made a winning move down the back, claiming the lead rounding the home turn.
It is there that he pinched a winning break and it was left to the sweepers to storm down the outside to fill the placings.
Runner-up Tommy Tuppence ($20.20, Mat Rue) was back near last until the 400 metre mark when he got to the outside and made up many lengths while it was a similar effort by third-placed Pitlochry ($6.90, John O'Shea) who could see them all heading into the final turn where he sprouted wings five-and-six-wide on the track.
Snoop Stride ($1.30 fav) not only made it a feature double for Steve but also for the Rosatis in the Medlyns and Castrol Gig Series Final which was also a winning double in the sulky for Amanda Turnbull.
After a slow start off the back line, Amanda allowed Snoop Stride to settle into his gear before making a long and searching run at the bell.
As the speed quickened down the back the last time it appeared as though Snoop Stride was labouring but then Amanda gave him a slap on the behind and he chimed in on straightening for home before engaging in a battle royal with stablemate Midnight Prowler ($8.00, Steve Turnbull) right down to the wire where only a head separated them.
Midnight Prowler had led and got things pretty much his own way but just failed while Tim McGee ($43.80, Mat Rue) sat just off the pace and attacked the line strongly to be only a half-length from the winner in the end.
Amanda won earlier in the night when McArdles Chance ($2.30 fav) overcame a second row draw to take out the Parkes Leagues Club Pace (2040m).
Allowing the horse to settle early, Amanda was off around the pack swinging in for the bell lap and she worked her way up to the leaders and took over as heads were turned for home.
But just when McArdles Chance looked set for an easy win, along came local pacer Scots Legacy ($18.00, John O'Shea) which raced on the leader's back and jumped out of the ground in the last 100 metres of the race to only fail by a half head.
Raging Rhuben ($3.00, Emma Turnbull) was worried in front at different stages and did well to finish third, beaten three-and-a-half metres. Racing will return to the Parkes Paceway on Monday, January 26 being Australia Day.