Wagga reinsman Shane Hallcroft received the perfect early wedding present with a victory from his only drive at Riverina Paceway on Friday.
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Hallcroft will marry fellow trainer-driver Rebecca Brewer at Uranquinty on Saturday and had cause for an early celebration after steering Say It Again ($3.70) to victory in the HRNSW Rewards Series Heat (1740m) at Wagga.
Hallcroft said it was the perfect lead-up for his big day.
"One hundred per cent," Hallcroft said.
"It gives us an excuse for an early drink. There were a few people there that had travelled over for the wedding that were able to come to the trots and see us get a winner.
"It will be a good day (on Saturday). Hopefully the weather is like it is today and we'll have a cracking day."
Say It Again had been unplaced from all nine starts before Friday's breakthrough.
The six-year-old was having just his second start for Wagga trainer Phil Bryce and put in a faultless performance to score.
Say It Again crossed straight to the front from gate three and never looked troubled as he cruised home to win by five metres, in a mile rate of 1:57.3.
Hallcroft was not surprised by the victory.
"We were expecting him to win. If he did everything right I thought he'd win," he said.
"He's had a fair bit of trouble pacing. He still puts in the odd bad step but I couldn't fault him today. He didn't do anything wrong.
"Phil does a good job with him."
Say It Again won by five metres from Artistic Trouble ($6.00), with a further five metres to Mustang Cruiser ($12.00) back in third place.
Meantime, Crime Don't Pay ($2.70) registered his fourth win of his career with victory in the opening race, the TAB Odds & Evens 3YO Pace (1740m).
Jones settled just off the pace and timed his run to perfection on Crime Don't Pay, as the Canberra visitor was able to kick strongly in the straight to defeat The Irish Eagle ($3.10) by a half neck.
It was Crime Don't Pay's fourth win at start number 18. The three-year-old recorded a winning mile rate of 1:55.2.
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