However, it proved to be the more unlikely of her two hopes which won at Dubbo Paceway.

The leading trainer-driver from Bathurst won the night's second heat with Sweet Heaven after missing out with $3.30 favourite Fasika in the opener.

Fasika was a worthy favourite, having scored four wins in as many starts on Australian soil since arriving from New Zealand, but it wasn't to be on Friday as the Todd Prest-trained Sporty Dancer stole the show.

Sporty Dancer lit up the Dubbo track in an impressive showing after being forced five wide as they rounded the bend for home.

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Fasika has found the lead but winning driver Todd Day had tacked onto Turnbull's back on the bell lap and was able to overhaul her in the straight.

Day and Sporty Dancer went on to win by a half-neck in a mile rate of 1:57:3, cementing themselves as leading contenders for the crown in next Friday's $30,600 final.

"She felt really good," Day said after the win.

"I thought going into the race she was probably a class above them but I didn't know about Amanda's.

"But this mare is very, very handy. She had a good campaign up in Queensland and even though she got beat by 30m last start it was against a lot better horses."

As Day eluded to, Sporty Dancer has done a huge amount of travel in recent times.

Based at the Prest stables in Leeton, Sporty Dancer's last three starts had been at Melton and Bendigo in Victoria while prior to that she'd had five starts in Queensland.

The filly hadn't run worse than third in a strong campaign north of the border and caught the eye again on Friday night.

The Andrew Ison-trained Miss Serena ($12), who had won five straight heading to Dubbo, started the best from gate four and set the pace early from Tinka Terror ($11) while Lloyd and James Sutton's leading hometown hope Yarraman Bella ($6) also got forward.

Fasika and Sporty Dancer were the last two in the field during the early stages but as they came down the straight to receive the bell Turnbull made her move, taking on to Cala Jane's ($4.80) back as she moved around the outside.

At the top of the back straight the challengers emerged and Fasika was looming large four wide while Sporty Dancer was forced to the extreme outside.

Fasika took the lead from Miss Serena at the top of the straight but in a fantastic two-way battle down the straight it was Sporty Dancer who nabbed victory while Cala Jane had to settle for third.

"When the speed was on early it really suited us," Day said, Friday marking the first time he'd driven at Dubbo.

"I was over the moon (to get the drive). I don't think there was a better one.

"I rate her pretty high in this series but it all comes down the barrier draw and speed in the race."

Turnbull made amends in the night's second heat as Sweet Heaven ($5) won by 1.2m from Nathan Hurst's $26 outsider Gabbys Reason while Iamajoyride ($10) was third.

The joy didn't stop there for Turnbull as she went on to complete a double by taking out the night's feature event, the Western District Derby (2120m), with Perfect Cut ($1.50 favourite).

Just 24 hours before she was driving in the biggest race in Australasia, the Inter Dominion Pacing Championship Final, Turnbull got Perfect Cut to go three wide around the field and win from Barry Lew's fast-finishing Great Presence ($41).

Next Friday will be the annual Carnival of Cups meeting at Dubbo, with the Red Ochre Mares Classic Final headlining a card which also features the Peter Lew Memorial and Little Red Jug Final.

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