Harness racing
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THE Kim Hillier stable showed its dominance at Wagga on Tuesday night, winning two of the first three races on the card.
Corrinyah Conman was the more impressive of the two winners, dominating his rivals to win the Union Club Hotel Pace (2165m) by 8.2 metres.
Driver David Moran was able to find the front early and there he was able to dictate with the favourite.
Footfullofbindis ran home late into second, but was never a realistic chance of defeating the winner.
Corrinyah Conman now brings his record to two wins from three starts, after another impressive victory at Albury last week.
On that occasion the three-year-old scored by 10.90 metres.
His only failure was on debut, when he finished seventh, 14.8 metres behind winner Stellagrey.
Hillier's husband Shane has a nice opinion of the son of Mister Big, even though there is still room for improvement.
"I think he's going places," Hillier said. "He's dumb, a spooky big fella who stops and starts and half waits for them.
"Even on straightening he got a length on them and switched off, waiting for them to come again.
"When they come again he takes off and he's still learning.
"But he'll be right and with racing he'll learn."
Like his stablemate, Bells Beach House was able to find the front and from there went on the score a comfortable 3.1-metre win in the Pryde's Easifeed Pace (2165m).
Upsy Daisy ($5.80) had a comfortable run behind, but still couldn't outsprint her rival, who scored his sixth win since joining the Hillier stable in August.
Sent to the Hilliers by Luke McCarthy, Hillier couldn't be happier with his performances.
"He's been a gem of a horse since Luke sent him," Hillier said.
"He's a nice horse and I don't think he's ever been beaten from in front."
The son of Art Major also won his trainer another bonus with the race sponsor giving three bags of feed to the winner.
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TACTFUL Lady hadn't won since August, but she returned to the winner's list with an impressive burst at Wagga on Tuesday.
The Norm Diebert Jnr-trained mare stormed home to seal victory in the South Wagga Butchery Pace (2165m).
Sitting back she waited for the home straight to pounce, running past favourite Northern Line for a 3.5-metre win.
After scoring in a Menangle Country Series heat in only her second race start in Australia, Diebert credited a drop in grade for her form turnaround.
"She had a nice soft run and dropped way in grade," he said.
"She got up in grade as was racing pretty handy horses.
"She was very fairly honest, but not quite up to them and with the drop it grade it helps."
Tactful Lady is part of a increasing list of horses Diebert trains for Albury owner Lance Cobban.
The pair combined to win the first two-year-old race of the season, at Leeton on December 6.
Sonny Orlando led all the way, holding off Our Red Jack and All Together Betta to win by a neck.
However, the MIA Breeders Plate isn't in the plans for the son of Lis Mara.
Diebert has had the former New Zealand gelding since he was a weanling, but has stepped back with his plans.
"I put him out the next day and he's going to have six weeks out," Diebert said.
"He's not quite up to a couple of the other ones I've seen and probably needs a little break."
Harness racing
HE LOOKED gone running for home, but Itsallaboutlu fought off his rivals to hand Leeton reinsman Gerard Cooper his first win at Wagga on Saturday night.
It took Cooper eight months to drive his first winner, but the wait was worth it.
Itsallaboutlu was headed at the 400 metres, but despite being first up from a spell, he wouldn't be denied.
Pushing back in front of favourite Elite Street in the home straight, he won the Redbank Standardbreds Competitive Stakes (1755m) by 3.4 metres.
Steering home a horse he co-owns, Cooper paid credit to trainer Pat Fiumara.
Cooper works in partnership with Fiumara and the 25-year-old credited him for igniting his interest in the sport.
"My pop had a couple of horses, he used to be into them, but I don't know how it started to be honest," Cooper said.
"I was just down at the stables with Pat, starting helping him out then started driving for him."
After a couple of near misses bringing up his victory was a welcome relief.
"I've had a couple of seconds and thirds and that and Pat normally drives 'Luey', but gave me the drive to try and get the win," Cooper said.
Running a new best mile rate of 2:00.4, the win is the five-year-old's sixth from 49 starts.
He's also been placed on a further 13 occasions.
After being headed, Cooper hadn't given up hope of claiming his maiden victory.
"He's a bit of a battler and I thought if I was thereabouts at the corner I could still beat him home," Cooper said.
"He likes to plug up the straight so he's always a chance if he's up there."
In front of a strong crowd for the Christmas party race day, Ray Turner took overall training and driving honours.
Turner scored with outsider Normsgottamajor in the Tasco Inland Pace (1755m) before winning the Nesbitt's Furniture Pace (2165m) with Conrod Kenze.