Jason Whiting booted home a double on Thursday

By Geoff Whittle

Northam Race Club’s big nine-event programme escaped any significant disruption from the rain spells that were predicted for the region on Thursday.

Our best bet Better Lighten Up was one of several runners from the Bunbury area to win on the card in the 1600 metre sixth event.

Trained at Gelorup by Christine Stelmach, Better Lighten Up broke through for a well deserved win in her 1600 metre maiden and gave Jason Whiting a double.

Six maidens greeted punters on the card but most winners were back-able, particularly Galaxy Queen and Light My Friar.

The formidable combination of Pinjarra trainer Michael Pateman and his apprentice Chloe Chatfield combined yet again to win, this time with the filly Kurnall Road at each way odds ($5.20) in race four.

Chatfield placed Kurnall Road to her advantage and was always in the first four on the fence. She proved too strong for leader Step And Go on the post

The Daniel Morton trained debutant Zester impressed by leading for Jason Brown and then holding out Black Blast by a long head in the opening, www.visitnortham.com.au Maiden over 1100 metres. Favourite Le Plunge was a well-beaten third.

David Harrison produced Light My Friar fit and well first up and the Blackfriars gelding, always in the firing line fourth, staved off Operation Leftfoot by a length to win for John Claite. Favourite Heart Ache appeared to have her chances in third.

Shaun O’Donnell continued in his winning vein from Wednesday when he gave the Jeune filly Galaxy Queen a perfect trip in race three over 1400 metres.

Likely apprentice Campbell McCullum sent the grey Field Of Action to the lead, rated well but O’Donnell sat behind him and waited for the cutaway gap to appear on the Warwick Bradshaw Bunbury trained three-year-old. Galaxy Queen raced away to win easily and the victory will not be her last.

Another South-West trained galloper made the long trip worthwhile for her Capel trainer Ross Price when Cyclonic Force ran on powerfully to win for Jason Whiting in race five, the 1300 metre Sunblock Blinds Maiden.

It was more of the same in race seven when Bunbury trainer Mark Bairstow and O’Donnell teamed up to get Juggling over the line in race seven over 1600 metres.

Supporters of the $9.90 TAB chance had every right to be concerned when he was lamenting in last place early but O’Donnell produced him with a withering burst to grab the lead and win narrowly from Armed Response and Bigamist a clear third but a coming winner.

Dan Staeck proved to be the punter’s pal in the third leg of the quaddie when rode promising stayer and favourite She’s Foxy Right with plenty of initiative to win race eight.

The Gannons 2200 metre Handicap saw a pace set that Staeck was not happy with and he sent the $2.90 chance to the front mid-race and it was winning move. Outsider Haste and Eternal Power took the placings.

Kooyong Road continued his rejuvenated form with an all-the-way in the final event the www.northamraceclub.com Handicap over 1300 metre for trainer Tim Stubberfield and rider Lucas Camilleri.

A former city winner, Kooyong Road has raced in great heart at two starts for his former prominent jockey trainer now yielding a duo of wins. The evergreen Oaksville dashed through late to grab second.