The biggest surprise came in the form of Mitchell River, trained in Bathurst by Gary Williams, who was in his 110th career start.

The son of River Khan out of Twist The Truth has put together a record of near misses in the last 31/2 years, and endured a phenomenal run of outs that stretched back 74 starts to July 2006.

At that stage, he won two straight races in Penrith and looked like a talented prospect but then things went south.

However, when it rains, it pours.

Having snapped his extended streak with the horse just a week ago in Orange, Williams once more made it two in a row by taking out the third heat of the Dubbo RSL Club Pace (2120 metres), paying $6.40 for the win and saluting by 21/2 metres over Destiny Awaits ($9.30).

John Vautin’s Taken Chances started a $1.40 favourite in the same race but turned in a shocker, finishing a distant last.

Things improved for Vautin though when he was in the gig for Lester Hewitt’s By That Much ($2.20 favourite) which took out the seventh race in a photo finish ahead of Choc Attack ($10).

In the Three Year Old Pace (2120m) Bernie Hewitt scored with $1.60 favourite Noplacelikeholme, driven by Matt Rue, who was able to hold off WilyWahini ($5.80) by just under four metres.

Bathurst trainer Jack O’Shea was celebrating after the victory of Johnny Morocco ($3.60) in the second heat of the Dubbo RSL Pace, having saluted under the guidance of driver Stephen Dowton to trump Kenny Cruise ($3 favourite) by just a neck.

The final win for the Bathurst contingent came in the last race on the program where the Dennis Oxley-trained $1.50 favourite Equivocal took out the 1720m event.

Driven by Trent Rue, the gelding overcame his back row start to win by almost three metres over Cobla Reign ($5.30).