THE Bathurst contingent at the Inter Dominion Grand Final meeting at Menangle on Sunday endured a tough day at the office, going without so much as a placing across the lucrative meeting.

The best-performed Bathurst starter on the night belonged to Steve Turnbull. He piloted Veracity Red to fourth in the $25,000 Sapling Stakes (1609 metres) behind $5.70 chance Sheezallattitude, who took out the race for trainer Felicity Gallagher.

Beginning from wide on the track in gate eight, Turnbull guided the two-year-old rising star forward and sat three-wide and one off the early leader Modern Slippa ($24.10). However, when push came to shove, the gelding couldn't match it with Gallagher's youngster.

Behind Turnbull, Georges Plains trainer Bernie Hewitt couldn't manage better than seventh on his two-year-old Screaman Seaman ($19) while Ashlee Siejka � driving for father Mick Siejka � crossed the line ninth on Aliya Nicolle ($77).

Turnbull's average night earlier got off to a shaky start through experienced gelding Lip Sync, the five-year-old finishing eighth of nine starters in the $15,000 Australasian Young Drivers Championship (1609m).

Lip Sync was being driven by Reon Tither and was given a chance by punters, who backed him into $8.70 behind former Bathurst Gold Crown winner Emjayem Grand ($2.40), but neither proved a match for eventual winner Apollo Drive.

Starting as a rank $29.70 outsider, the veteran gelding carried driver Roydon Downer to victory in slick fashion.

The night finished on a quiet note for Turnbull in the final event on the card. Accomplished colt Royal Surprise ($4.70) paid the price for racing wide and without cover by crossing the line seventh in the $25,000 Smooth Satin Championship Final.

Racing in the event that bore his former star's name, Turnbull was well beaten by New Zealander Passion N Glory ($12.90).