Veteran cricketer Arnold Manders' harness racing career got off to an inauspicious start at the Vesey Street track on Saturday night.

Making his debut in the sulky of Shamrock Victoria, Manders suffered a broken wrist after his pony went down.

It marked the first accident of the new season at the track.

The pony is expected to be out of racing for ten days while Manders could be on the sidelines for six weeks.

WS Sea Breeze captured the night's opening race with Precious Lady second and VD Pride third. All three ponies now advance to the next time bar along with Pocket Change who captured race two.

Besides Pocket Change, the night's other double winners were Shamrock Marla, Crownmate, Killer's Legacy and Kickapoo Brave.

Taxi Dreamer continued to set the track ablaze, moving up another time bar for the second week in succession.

In the night's closest race, young Jason Lopes, driving Nateway, nosed out Runt's Rocket at the finish line while TrottAcre Byrd also edged out Diamondway to take third place honours.

Eddie Roque's Tuxedo Bowtie recorded the night's fastest time to win the first half of the Free for All in 1.06.1.