THE drama of the recent abandoned race meeting was forgotten when the sun shone on Percy Spencer Racecourse last Thursday.
The final meeting of the 2008/09 Albany calendar provided some exciting finishes.
Peter Hall rode a winning double after starting the day in perfect style aboard the Allen McNamara-trained Stormy Glow in Honourable Judge’s Maiden.
Hall settled midfield with Stormyglow, while Peter Western’s True Knight and Mark Nelson’s Competitive Street fought for the lead.
Competitive Street got to the front in the straight before Stormyglow flew home for a three-quarter-length win.
Hall’s next winner could not have been more different, opting for a front-running ride with Steve Wolfe’s Starsky in the Great Southern Handicap (1,400m,).
Brendan Corver’s Kimberleys flashed home for second ahead of Joe Miller’s Prince of Promise.
The victory sewed up the Trainer’s Premiership for Wolfe, who finished with 24 wins.
Mike Byatt’s Alsaah Warrior bounced back to winning form in thrilling fashion in the End of Season Handicap (1,600m).
After previous runs over 2,100m and 1,800m, Alsaah Warrior had enough in the tank to fight out a gruelling finish with Wolfe’s Commandeer and win by a head.
Connections were also thrilled with the $27.50 winning dividend.
Greg Carige’s Scanned broke his maiden status earlier in the day over the 1,500m journey.
Dan Staeck had Scanned handy to the leaders at the turn then finished strongly to edge past Alan McGuinniss’ Pulashaky who led for all but the last stride.
Gerry Hughes’s Eternal Advice was third.
Hughes had his revenge soon after when Titcherman bounced back to wining form in the Karadal Chaff Sprint (1,500m).
Jess Valas settled at the back on Titcherman but loomed up at the turn and outsprinted Tracey Frizzell’s Key’s Ace and Helen Harding’s Burnzy.
Continuing the good form of Esperance gallopers, Sally Roworth’s Caribbean Cruise won the 1,100m ARC Committee Handicap.
Takahide Ikenushi had the Danetime three-year-old just behind the leaders at the turn.
He dashed home smartly to beat Paul Hunter’s Saramento and Ken Nightingale’s Ventoux.
Shane Gilchrist had only one ride for the day, but made the journey to Albany worthwhile by guiding Evil Force to victory in the Go For 2&5 Handicap (1,400m).
John Askevold’s Saintstreet finished strongly for second and John Parker’s Mullah Bay was third.
The lucky last, the 1,200m Life Members Handicap, went to Dave Hopperton’s Spitfighter which beat Paul Hunter’s Soft Wind and Fiona Scott’s Second Lady.