Due to the coronavirus crisis, harness racing was regionalised with only Riverina-trained horses allowed to race in the region.

It meant the likes of Neil Day had to race at Menangle or Penrith during the period.

However he struck an early blow with the impressive Dance Away at Riverina Paceway on Friday.

After a fifth at Menangle on debut, Dance Away smoked his rivals late.

Day was impressed with the two-year-old.

"He's still very new and learning his craft but has a fair bit of natural ability," Day said.

"He's come forward for his first race and worked good at home during the week so I expected him to run well.

"Hopefully he can continue on."

The race was run to suit with fast early sectionals helping the son of A Rocknroll Dance swarm his rivals coming for home.

Playa Blanca ($10) fought hard up the straight for Norm Jerrick but couldn't catch Dance Away ($1.40 fav) who went on to win by 8.5 metres in a mile rate of 1:55.4.

Day thought the tempo suited.

"He's an A Rocknroll Dance and I think they can be a little bit highly strung so I didn't want to get in the early burn," he said.

"The way the race panned it it suited my fella."

Day was pleased to make the most of easing restrictions.

Especially after being zoned in the metropolitan area.

"Here you make a racehorse of them rather than going down there and putting them on the chopping block straight away," Day said.

"It's been hard since we've been in zones with us down with the metropolitan people as the racing down there is a fair bit stronger.

"It does help when we can place the horses where they need to be."

The first four races were taken out by Goulburn trainers with Dennis Day (Neils Reactor), Brad Hewitt (Boston Busker) and Sam Hewitt (Fastnflashy) also tasting success.

Neils Reactor and Boston Busker also brought up their first career wins.

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