Special Gold flirted with the overall track record during another exciting round of harness racing at the National Equestrian Centre at the weekend.

Lee and Sergio Raynor’s stallion took full advantage of running on the rail on the way to winning the second heat in the Free for All with driver Kirista Rabain in a blistering time of 1:01.4.

The time was only three fifths shy of the overall track record (1:01.1) and two fifths shy of the stallion’s record (1:01.2), which Special Gold already owns, and the horse’s lifetime best and season’s fastest time.

“He went in 1:01.4 and so we are happy about that,” Lee Raynor told The Royal Gazette. “You never know how things are going to go until you step on to the track. So you are hoping that they feel good and they can give you a good performance and he ran along nice.

“It was a good day and we are really pleased. We are thankful and keeping our fingers crossed that hopefully better things are coming.”

Rabain enjoyed another fruitful day at the track as she chalked up four victories with three different horses and also recorded the day’s second fastest time of 1:02.1 in the Free for All with Simsfield Stable’s gelding, Simsfield Hardtimes.

“It was a very good day,” she said. “It’s always nice to have horses that perform well, especially nearing the end of the season. It’s nice to know that we are finishing up strong and fast.”

As for steering Special Gold and Simsfield Hardtimes to the two fastest times of the day,“ Rabain added: ”I think those are two very strong horses that the owners are doing really good work with them.

“I have the easy job. But it’s a lot of pressure always looking to break a record.“

Rabain’s other victory came with her mare, IC’s Overextended, competing in the Junior Free for All.

“She enjoys racing and is showing up and performing every week,” she added.

Getting both legs out of the slower 1:06.1 – 1:08 time bar was Andy Stoneham’s five-year-old stallion, WiggleItJiggleIt, on the way to victory in the opening heat.

Also making inroads was Keith Woodley’s mare, Smooky Brona’s Girl, which got a leg out of the 1:08.1 – 1:11.3 time bar with driver Philip Correia in the bike.

Darico Clarke, Catrina Stephens and Correia were the remaining drivers achieving multiple heat wins on the day.