Capararo Memorial Sprint Final won by rising pacing star, veteran Tubbs Farquhar takes out anniversary cup

Talented three-year-old Heez A Vibe proved superior in the $11,000 Harry Capararo Memorial Sprint Final (1832m) in Albany on December 28. The feature race was the highlight of the final meeting of 2024 at Harold Reid Paceway and it was the Michael Young-trained gelding that proved too strong. Heavily supported into a $1.30 favourite, Heez A Vibe sat just off the leaders in the run before storming home under driver Emily Suvaljko to win by 11.5m. It was a sixth win for the young star who then went on to win at Gloucester Park on January 3 and has tasted success seven times in just 19 career starts. Suvaljko enjoyed a brilliant night in the sulky on December 28, finishing with four winners on the seven-race card. She partnered the Lang Inwood-trained Vintage Blu ($5) to win race two over 1832m and then was successful on Let’s Rock Tonight ($2.45) again for the Inwood stable. Albany trainer Charles Draper won the Paceway Photos Div.2 Pace (2265m) with Shoal Bay ($4.80) who fought on strongly for Suvaljko in the sprint lane to score a 3.6m triumph. The Albany Harness Racing Club is celebrating 50 years and had anniversary celebrations on December 28. Veteran Tubbs Farquhar claimed victory in the $9360 AHRC 50th Anniversary Cup (2247m) for trainer Hayden Reeves. Driven by Kylah Madden, the nine-year-old pacer was just off the leaders coming into the bell lap and then got home to beat the Tim Stone-prepared Koolbardi Navajo ($3) by 2.6m. Reeves had a double at the meeting after Betterthan Secret claimed race three narrowly. Local runner Kolisi was an impressive winner at Albany’s most recent meeting on January 4. Trained by Terry Dymock, Kolisi ($4.80) moved up outside the leader approaching the final lap of the Albany Stockfeeds Pace (2265m). Driver Corey Peterson got the best out of the gelding late to beat home $2 favourite Captains Beachbabe by 2.5m while Highly Flammable was right there in the finish and grabbed third. Reeves finished with a treble on the eight-race program after Tempt The Stars, Bonnie Pauline and Blind Edition saluted. Fellow trainer Michael Young also notched a treble after the victories of Princess Kate, Illawong Mustang and Machlani. Stuart McDonald was in red-hot form driving three winners at the meeting while Peterson and Suvaljko also had winning doubles. Albany’s next meeting will be on Saturday, January 11.