THE first of 10 harness meetings for the 2017-18 season for the Mount Gambier club starts tonight.
Opening night is generally hard work for punters with so many horses resuming, plus a large contingent of Victorian pacers competing.
The best two races are the final two, one of which is the G.S. Shepherd Memorial.
Racebooks for the meeting can be obtained from Fosters Newsagency.
Race 1
A VERY interesting race to start the season, with one first starter, the Terry Glynn trained SAMARA FURY, drawn the pole and a trial winner here last Sunday in good time.
CHAMPAGNE TASTE has had seven runs already this campaign (for three placings) and did run third in an Ararat trial recently.
Resuming from a two month spell is TOTHEMOONANDBACK and both career runs back in August resulted in placings at Globe Derby.
Stablemate BEACH SIDE won a trial here on October 15 before a first up eighth at Horsham last Monday.
MISTERFREEZE has won four races from 18 starts and resumes from a six month spell and may need luck from the second row draw.
Former Kiwi pacer THE NEW MAN has had two Australian starts for two thirds in Victoria last month.
Selections: Misterfreeze 1; Samara Fury 2; Tothemoonandback 3.
Race 2
VERY limited winning chances in this maiden race.
The Drury stable hold the key with two runners, the pole marker SO BOBS YOUR UNCLE and SKY HIGH EURASIAN which is drawn along side.
The former has run four placings from nine starts, is resuming tonight and did run second when first up last time in work.
SKY HIGH EURASIAN resumed with a seventh (from the second row) at Horsham last Monday and was hemmed away on the pegs back in the field.
PRESIDENTIAL ART resumes from a four month spell and did run third when first up last campaign.
EASTBRO RORY is yet to be placed from six starts but a win would not surprise in this field even from the second row.
Selections: So Bobs Your Uncle 1; Sky High Eurasian 2; Eastbro Rory 3.
Race 3
A MUCH stronger race for punters to work on with some handy pacers competing.
Although the pole marker SHANIA BLACK has not raced since late August, she did win first up at Globe Derby back in July as an odds on favourite.
Ready for a bold showing after a trial win here on October 8.
WHAT A CHALLENGE is a main hope following a first up win at Ararat on September 19, before racing three wide and seventh at Hamilton a week later.
Ran third in a recent Terang trial in fair time.
ADAMS EXPRESS ran a distant third when first up at Wayville last Friday after having trouble negotiating the turns.
A newcomer to the Malcolm Phillips stable is HOT BREAKFAST, off the scene since July but did win first up last preparation and won a trial here last Sunday in fast time.
Selections: What A Challenge 1; Shania Black 2; Hot Breakfast 3.
Race 4
VERY little form to go on in the first three year old race, and only two of the six starters are from South East stables.
Victorian trainer Brooke Hansen has both WANTED LADY and OHANZEE, the former an Ararat trial winner on October 23 and the mare is by far the experienced runner having won two races.
EASTBRO KATIE defeated TOO THE MAX in a Terang trial last Sunday, while the Bob Maloney trained MALONE RANGER is making his debut after winning a trial here last Sunday.
LONE STAR STATE is yet to be placed from three starts for the Drury stable, while the first starter EASTBRO TEX was fourth in a recent Terang trial.
Selections: Eastbro Katie 1; Wanted Lady 2; Malone Ranger 3.
Race 5
PLENTY of experienced runners in the Shepherd Memorial but all bar one are in the early stages of new campaigns.
LETS ROCK ON BYE is a winner of two races, is resuming tonight and was a distant second in a recent Terang trial.
TELL THE FUTURE was a well beaten fifth when resuming at Horsham last Monday but did win second up last campaign.
The Penola pacer THELONGROADNORTH led and won easily when favourite at Hamilton recently after showing good trial form here.
BEE GEES BANDIT is a winner of five races, but failed as a $1.50 favourite when fifth at Horsham last Monday when resuming.
AMARANDA won at Stawell and Charlton last preparation, and showed she is ready to resume with a second in fast time in a trial at Ararat on October 23.
Selections: Amaranda 1; Tell The Future 2; Bee Gees Bandit 3.
Race 6
THE fast class race of the night and the interesting runner is JUMPING JOLT, a winner of 13 of 25 races but has been off the scene since winning here in track record time last December.
The pole marker CORPORAL BILL has been around the mark without winning in Victoria.
At her last nine runs last time in work during the winter, ROCKING TESS won three races and was placed the other six and was second in fast time in a trial here last Sunday.
AMUSING CRUISER resumed with a third at Horsham last Monday at big odds.
MACTERRA HAWK ran on well when a first up fourth at Hamilton last Monday week.
Selections: Jumping Jolt 1; Rocking Tess 2; Corporal Bill 3.
