The lightly raced Snitzel gelding took his strike rate to four victories and a similar number of placings from fifteen outings as the Tas Morton trained galloper was able to withstand the finishing run of Scatter Blast and Oakfield to land the major prize in the feature event on the holiday program.

Just Sizzling set the tempo from Stylish Pattern, Dollson and Port and Beans with Accoustix enjoying the run of the race just behind the speed battle before claiming the lead down the home running.

Success was sweet for popular local rider, Luke Rolls, as Accoustix completed a riding double following his tough win by Razano in the opening race with the rider being fiercely competitive throughout the afternoon with second placings on Graceful Star, Dreams Out West and Delight.

Razano had been placed at Taree and Kempsey in recent times and the flashy chestnut filly deserved to break her maiden status for local mentor, John Sprague, while Teo Torriate scored well for Greg Howells and Ray Spokes in the middle-distance Benchmark 50 Handicap.

A dashing mid-race move by Ben Looker on the Jenny Graham trained mare, Eurogem, resulted in an impressive victory for the daughter of Eurozone in the third by just over three lengths.

After an enforced holiday, Looker has returned with determination following a successful riding resumption at Bowraville recently and his judgement on Eurogem proved it won't be long before he will be again approaching the achievements of previous seasons.

Keen racing judges were greatly impressed with the debut performance of the Kristen Buchanan trained gelding, Chosen Monarch, following a narrow win in the Maiden Plate.

After being stirred up prior to the start, the son of Choisir was able to kick clear in the straight with Jake Hull able to withstand the finishing burst of Dreams Out West to score a narrow victory.

On a day where exciting and close finishes were the trend, Delight looked the winner in the last before Aaron Bullock came from last with a phenomenal run between gallopers to claim the front in the shadows of the post and salute.

The win will prove a great tonic for prominent local trainer, Bob Milligan, who hasn't enjoyed the best of health in recent times with the stable enjoying a strong recent strike rate.

The club would like to express a great deal of thanks to the team from Harelec for their continued support of the program together with Barbers on Murray in making the day such a resounding success.

It was wonderful to see so many holiday makers taking advantage of the excellent trackside catering, wagering and bar facilities with the meeting conducted under fine skies on a genuine good surface.

The meeting has become a New Year tradition in the district and the attendance of approaching 2000 patrons sets the scene for another stellar racing year for the Port Macquarie Race Club.

A strong meeting is set to be conducted on Friday 10th January before a fabulous day of racing at Port for the running of the $60,000 Queen of the North Handicap, one of the premier events on the club's calendar, to be run on Friday, January 24.

Race 1 - HARELEC OFFGRID MAIDEN HCP (1512 M)

Razano was the relatively solid favourite hovering between red and black figures for most of the betting with the Joanne Hardy trained mare, The Actress, well supported while Ryebuck was the easing third elect.

Sunday Special began well and assumed the early lead from Razano with Ryebuck in the centre and The Actress continuing to make ground from her wide barrier.

As Jacob Golden endeavoured to settle Sunday Special down, Ryebuck worked up in the centre to assume control of the event despite being seriously challenged for the lead by Olivia Pickering aboard The Actress.

With Ryebuck and The Actress contesting the front approaching the home bend, Aaron Bullock was able to work into third placing underneath Kenninghall and Listen Mate with Sunday Special just behind the pack.

Ryebuck was the first horse to yield ground in the home straight as The Actress started to roll off the rails with the run presenting for Razano.

Kenninghall and Listen Mate began to make their moves down the outside and Sunday Special continued to save valuable ground closest to the fence.

In a titanic battle over the concluding stages, Aaron Bullock was able to lift the John Sprague trained filly, Razano, over the line for a narrow and well-deserved victory from The Actress and Listen Mate with Sunday Special not far away while Ryebuck wilted noticeably over the concluding stages.

Race 2 - STOWE ELECTRICAL BENCHMARK 50 HCP (1512 M)

In a race that turned out difficult for form students to assess, punters were keen to back Pleasure Bomb into favourite with some support for Ravitude and El Teniente while Field Helmet drifted into fourth elect.

Luke Rolls was able to take advantage of the early speed possessed by Can't Catch Her to allow the Hinchinbrook mare to race clear from One More Legend with Pleasure Bomb continuing to make ground around Field Helmet and Ravitude.

With a great deal of pace towards the front, Teo Torriate and El Teniente were content to position near the tail of the field in front of Piccolo Miss.

Can't Catch Her used the inside advantage to hold the challenge of Pleasure Bomb as the field began to pack up down the side of the course with Field Helmet continuing to make ground despite being planted deep.

Ravitude was toiling away on the rails while Ray Spokes began to make a move on Teo Torriate with El Teniente looking to obtain cover behind the mare.

Can't Catch Her swung the home turn with a narrow lead from Field Helmet with the Greg Howells trained mare, Teo Torriate, working home well on the outside and El Teniente making good ground down the crown of the track.

Teo Torriate raced clear over the final two hundred metres and was able to withstand the finishing burst of Ben Looker aboard El Teniente to score by just over a length with Piccolo Miss making up solid ground over the concluding stages to claim third prize.

Race 3 - BARBERS ON MURRAY CLASS 1 HCP (1512 M)

The Star Witness gelding, Hubble, attracted the lions hare of support resulting in the Kristen Buchanan galloper being labelled the ruling elect from Graceful Star while Eurogem was solid in waging transactions as equal second favourite.

Hubble began well and settled in the lead before being challenged by Olivia Pickering aboard Degrasse with Graceful Star settling just off the speed in front of Comm and Cents and Equiseta.

Eurogem settled in the second half of the pack in front of Norma's Joy while Prince of Braemar was near the tail of the field in front of Eye Was.

Degrasse was keen to race and finally charged to a clear lead from Hubble with Graceful Star handily positioned on the inside of Equiseta and Mokin.

When the pace became muddling down the side of the track, Ben Looker made his move to dash around the field and assume control on the Jenny Graham trained mare, Eurogem, and raced five lengths clear from Hubble, Comm and Cents and Degrasse.

It was a master stroke by Looker as Eurogem kicked further ahead in the home running and was able to score a comprehensive victory from Graceful Star with Prince of Braemar making up good ground late to claim the minor prize in front of Hubble.

Race 4 - PORT'S NUMBER 1 BARBERS ON MURRAY MAIDEN PLATE (1110 M)

There was plenty of confidence around the Ken Faulds trained gelding, Kid Mac, resulting in the son of Monde Bleu being backed from $4.40 into $2.70 favourite while there was support for Chosen Monarch on debut.

The race had early drama close to start time with Poetic Affair becoming fractious in the barrier and being scratched by order of the stewards while Chosen Monarch, who was drawn next to the galloper, was deemed fit by the stewards to take his place in the field.

After an early speed battle, Za Za Zena raced to the lead before being challenged by Jake Hull aboard Chosen Monarch as these two runners raced away from Dreams Out West and Lage while Kid Mac was travelling in sixth place.

Za Za Zena and Chosen Monarch swung the home bend together from Dreams Out West and Lage with Kid Mac giving the leaders a tidy start as he moved towards the centre of the track.

Chosen Monarch raced clear at the distance marker before Luke Rolls began to make up good ground down the outside aboard the Damien Lane trained filly Dreams Out West.

In a driving go to the line, the Kristen Buchanan trained debutant, Chosen Monarch, was able to repel the finishing burst of Dreams Out West to score by a narrow margin with Za Za Zena holding on for third while Kid Mac failed to fire over the concluding stages.

Race 5 - HARELEC SOLAR POWER SPECIALSITS NEW YEAR'S DAY CUP CL 3 HCP (1210 M)

The Tas Morton trained gelding, Accoustix, was heavily supported into a narrow favourite despite the confidence around Dollson with these gallopers holding the call from Oakfield Jet.

Following a very even dispatch, Dollson was able to secure the lead from Port and Beans with Accoustix perfectly positioned just off the speed while Stylish Pattern was travelling wide around Oakfield Jet.

Jacob Golden tried to catch the leaders napping by striding boldly around the pack to take up the running on Just Sizzling as the field left the back straight from Stylish Pattern around Dollson with Pork and Beans racing on the inside of Accoustix.

Just Sizzling swung the home bend with a narrow margin from the Donna Grisdale trained galloper, Dollson, with Stylish Pattern under pressure on the outside while Accoustix began making ground towards the outside section of the track.

Just Sizzling was immediately under pressure as the challenge came from Accoustix and Wolfgram with Scatter Blast and Oakfield saving valuable ground along the fence.

Scatter Blast claimed the front at the distance marker but was no match for the finishing burst of Accoustix with Luke Rolls landing the victory on the son of Snitzel from Scatter Blast and Oakfield Jet with Dollson weakening in the final sections of the event.

Race 6 - HARELEC REMOTE AREA POWER BENCHMARK 50 HCP (1110 M)

Delight was sent to the barrier as the firm favourite from Alshahhad with some support for Zapluck while Dr Demon was relatively solid on the fourth line of betting.

Elite Dubleo was able to gain the early ascendancy from Delight before Angela Taylor made a lightning move aboard Alshahhad to drive the All Too Hard gelding into the firing line.

Zapluck was handily positioned early from Budawang with Foolin' Around racing together with Dark Secret while Dr Demon was at the tail of the field following a tardy start.

Elite Dubleo was being challenged by Alshahhad as the field straightened for home with Delight and Zapluck making well-timed runs down the centre of the track.

Delight raced to the front at the two hundred metre mark before Aaron Bullock came with a miraculous run from the tail of the field on Dr Demon with the son of Dr Doute weaving a passage between runners to claim Delight on the post to score by a narrow margin.

Elite Dubleo battled on well for third in front of Zapluck while the tough effort of Alshahhad told the tale as the gelding tired in the latter part of the race.