Trotting good time | Taranaki Sport | Surfing, Rugby, Soccer, Football, Cricket in Taranaki

STRATFORD'S Te Kapua Park was greeted with only sunshine as Sound of Thunder managed a comfortable win in the feature race at the 51st Annual Stratford Trotting Club Race Day.

Sound of Thunder won the $15,000 Hewes Scrapmetal Stratford Cup by four lengths over race favourite Heez Justamachine, Glow a further neck behind in third.

Sound of Thunder owned by Bryan and Marilyn Macey and trained by Cambridge reinmen Todd Mitchell has started a successful career with nine wins from 21 starts so far.

Yesterday's win qualifies Sound of Thunder a spot in the Country Cup ($35,000) at Alexandra Park in April.

Locals also had great success with two wins from the 11-race programme.

Stratford's Taffy Bayly produced another win with Flyin Along taking the Dairymaster Mobile Pace 1800m ($8000).

The other win went to Exceptional Courage who won the Aitken Transport Mobile Pace, causing minor upset paying $14 to win.

The horse is trained by David Cambie, Taranaki Trotting Club president, with his wife Christine.

Exceptional Courage gave an exceptional race coming from last place at the home turn to win with a strong lead.

Another highlight of the day was the children's harness races, which provided light entertainment on wooden horses with pedal power.

Although the crowd was lacking the entire event was a huge success with something for everyone including the odd lucky win.