THE Bathurst trainer-driver duo of Peter Trevor-Jones and Mat Rue scored a winning double at Dubbo on Sunday as Misdemeanor and Standandeliver produced the goods.
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The pair were favourites for their respective races as they achieved the same result, but their experiences on the way to the winning post were quite different.
Misdemeanor ($1.40) had to put in some early work in the TAB Odds and Evens Pace (2240m) when she was urged three wide to the lead but still had the energy to gap the field in the run to the line.
Standandeliver ($2.20) had to survive a charge from Bid For Stardom ($4, James Sutton) in the closing stages of the Sky Active Racing Pace (1720m).
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Trevor-Jones said the turnaround in Misdemeanor's career has been great to watch.
"There was a bit of speed on early but Matty's very good at summing up the situation so that's why he moved her forward," he said.
"She's had health issues and behavioural issues, you name it. She's lived up to her name. But we've tried a few different things with her gear-wise and it's all started to come together. It's a huge relief because she's always shown quite a bit of potential.
"We gave Standandeliver about 12 months off to grow and he was never too sure what the racing caper was about. He came back and he'd never had the death seat so I wasn't sure how he'd go.
"We were under the whip at the bell. Matty said he's just so lazy, you never know what he's up to. He certainly earned the driver's fee, he was at him the whole way."
While Trevor-Jones was the most successful trainer on the day, there was still joy for hometown hopes.
Sutton won again with Yarraman Bella, continuing a fine run of form with victory in the Dubbo Ten Pin Bowl Pace (2120m).
It made it six wins in 16 career starts for the three-year-old filly and two in the past five starts after a brief stint away from Sutton's stables.
This was one of the filly's most impressive wins as she crushed her rivals and finished more than 11m clear of the second-placed Mighty Joe (Mark Hewitt, $4).
Trained and driven by Sutton, $2.40 favourite Yarraman Bella got away well from gate two and showed good speed early when taking control.
It was one-way traffic from there on as Sutton's filly went on to win in a mile rate of 2:03:05.
Sutton was the only local winner on the day while trainers Andrew Cassell, Paul Bonham, Nathan Hurst, Robert Anderson, and Adam Bellach all scored victories.
Racing is next at Bathurst Paceway on Wednesday night.
