HARNESS RACING: Imposing Fella yesterday gave owner-breeder Frank Hession and trainer John Lew their second Horse of the Year title at the end of the Dubbo Harness Racing Club season.

Before yesterday in the Horse of the Year standings, Imposing Fella (20 points) was clearly in front of Before The Storm (15) and Geeigh Geoff (13).

Hessian and Lew have won the prestigious title once before, with Burrabadine.

Starting from barrier six in the ‘Catch A Flight’ - ‘DM Dilinger’ Pace over 1720 metres at the Dubbo Paceway, reinsman John O’Shea gave the gelding the run of the race behind Greece (Robert Hammond).

These two horses opened up a clear break from the rest of the field down the back straight but when they got down to the business end of the race, Imposing Fella sprinted to the line and won with something in reserve.

The official margin was six metres from Greece ($5.00) with Magical Ken (David Harris) at $13.50, 10 metres away third.

John Lew yesterday said his four-year-old was racing in the best form of his career, but it hadn’t always been that way.

“He showed a lot of promise as a two-year-old but picked up Ross River virus and until recently has really struggled, but hopefully we’re at the end of it all,” Lew said.

“That problem has seen him probably lose more races than he’s won.

“We also picked up a problem that the horse had anaemia and it’s been a struggle to get his blood right.

“He’s now a four-year-old and this time in has won four of his last eight starts, so maybe things are starting to look better.”

Indications are that April Hoy is going to have a big weekend with her 21st birthday celebrations tonight, after a winning drive behind debutant three-year-old colt Masterprice Melody in the NSW State Bred Bonus 3YO Pace yesterday.

Trained by April’s brother Nathan Hoy, Masterpiece Melody gave his followers a great result paying $41.80 on the NSW TAB.

Yesterday’s Dubbo TAB meeting also saw a minute’s silence observed in memory of long-time member and patron Neville Peters who died during the week aged 93.

His funeral will be held at 11.30am on Monday with a service at the Western Districts Memorial Chapel, Boothenba Road.