YOUNG local pacing drivers were in the spotlight this week at a host of meets from Gloucester Park to Albany for the Australia Day long weekend.
Ryan Warwick, stable foreman for Greg and Skye Bond, made his opportunities in the cart count on Friday night at Gloucester Park with success at the city venue.
At Albany on Sunday, Warwick saluted with a trifecta of winners for the Bonds with Denny Crane, Holy Grail and My Good Deed.
He continued his winning way at Pinjarra on Monday winning with Am Opulent in $10,000 Doyles Crane Hire Australia Day Cup and with Mach Banner later in the meet.
Clint Hall, hot off a winning drive in the Western Australia Pacing Cup a week ago with My Hard Copy, had his good form continue with a win behind Classic American in the $50,000 San Simeon Classic Final on Friday. Gary Hall senior’s stables at Serpentine have continued to dominate at Gloucester Park with Clint and his brother Gary junior in top form.
Hall junior returned from a suspension at Gloucester Park with four winners.
Lauren Jones, spending time at Hall seniors stable set up, bounced back after a bad fall at Pinjarra a week ago to salute with a winner at the Perth venue.
Jones backed it up with a win at Pinjarra on Monday and a double at Bunbury last Tuesday for Waroona trainer, Bob Mellsop.
Others to salute at Bunbury included Kade Howson with a training-driving success with October Brown and Gary Elson with Ideal Tyson with Nathan Turvey in the cart.
At Busselton on Friday night, the Karen Young-bred-and-trained, Love Of The Chase wrapped up the Sweetheart Series with a win when driven by Shane Young, his second win of the night.
Local Bill Hayes also saluted with Lively Attitude from the pole position at the country track.
Michael Grantham continued to make inroads to his change of sport from jockey to pacing driver with a trifecta of winning drives at Albany last Sunday, two for trainer Aldo Cortapassi and one for Michael Brennan with Mantoman.
Maddison Brown also made the journey to Albany and won with Two Bobs Wasowski.
At Pinjarra on Monday Chris Voak saluted with a double on the day and Natalie Duffy took all honours in the Ben Doyle Shackles Trotters Mobile with Idle Maple.
Harness Racing will continue on Monday at Pinjarra.