GEORGES Plains trainer Gemma Hewitt was given an early wedding present on Sunday when Lorne Beach picked up a win at the Parkes Harness Racing Club’s meeting.

In the gig behind six-year-old gelding Lorne Beach ($7.70), Greg Rue found a sit behind $4.10 favourite The Mighty Shoey.

After the early battle for the lead, the pace backed right off – a 29.1 seconds opening sectional followed by a 32.9 split.

Rue waited until around 400m to go to work off the pegs, but as the field turned for home it was still The Mighty Shoey in the lead.

Lorne Beach came down the outside and battled the length of the straight with the favourite, pulling ahead in his final strides to win by a head in a 2:00.4 mile rate.

It was his fourth win in 41 career starts.

ANYA WHITELAW

Reprinted with permission of The Western Advocate