And it wouldn't be a Tuncurry program without local trainer Terry Evans saluting, and he got his win courtesy of arguably the best horse in his stable when Not Doubtful scored a dominant win in the Great Lakes Advocate Benchmark 65 over 1200m. 

Ridden by Brazilian jockey, who now lives in Queensland, Wanderson D'Avila, Not Doubtful was obliged to sit three wide no cover throughout.  

READ MORE: All the photos from the Pre Australia Day races...click here

But that spot didn't seem to matter on the afternoon, and so it proved here when D'Avila booted the horse clear to win by a decisive margin over Classique, who was finishing off nicely from the back, with Fun With Indy whacking away for third.

“I was worried at the barrier,” D'Avila said about starting on the outside.

“It’s pretty tricky, sometimes when you draw the inside gate you get boxed in. But on the outside you can get pushed away, you have to wait till the start of the race to plan your run.”

For Evans, winning at home again was a big thrill.

Not Doubtful has won 12 races and placed in 18 for Evans. 

Overall Not Doubtful has earnt about $130,000 for Evans, a horse he originally paid $2500 for.

“But that doesn’t happen all the time,” Evans said. 

Taree trainer Bob Milligan continued his good run at Tuncurry when his three year old filly Another Valley proved too good for her five rivals in the Class Two Handicap over 1400m. 

The $1.50 punters elect sat near the speed throughout before leading New South Wales apprentice Sammie Clenton took the daughter of Ad Valorem to the front at the top of the straight, and from that point, it was easy watching for the punters. 

She comfortably won the race by over two lengths, beating home Laredo Hussler with Element Of Luck back in third. 

God I'm Hot carried on the good form of the punters who made it two from two when the three year old filly won the 1200m Maiden Handicap. 

Ridden by apprentice Jesse Graham, the Ken Lantry trained galloper sat three wide on speed for the duration but it didn't matter as she took the lead 200m out and kicked on strongly to beat another on speed runner, Ajeeta, with the Terry Evans trained One Summer working home strongly for an eye catching third, and is one to follow for the future. 

Newcastle trainer Jason Deamer is regarded as one of the guys in racing on the Hunter, so nobody could have begrudged him of the win of his handy three year old gelding Serious Hoffa in the Maiden Plate over the mile. Clenton brought up an early double courtesy of this galloper, who was pretty impressive in winning given he had to come from behind and looked in trouble 150m out, but the well backed favourite got the job done for a well deserved victory. The Equalizer ran second, just ahead of Stirling Shadow. 

The punters wanted to make it four from four when they sent out Nicco's Lass the $2.90 elect in the Benchmark 55 Handicap over 1000m, but instead it was a complete win for the bookmakers when $21 outsider Quarters Sister nailed Checkout Me Travla in the last stride, with the latter booting clear 250m out, but tiring late. $16 chance Tarlee Lane worked home strongly out wide for third while Nicco's Lass could only manage sixth. 

Paul Perry is one of the better trainers in the state, and after a frustrating afternoon of outs, he got his win when Peggy's Cove charged to the line near the inside to win the Class One Handicap over 1200m. Ridden by Chad Lever, the well backed daughter of Choisir got a long way back in the run before ducking and weaving her way through towards the fence and finished off best, beating home Talisa with Decompression a close up third. Half a length separated the first four in a great finish.  

The last race was a Benchmark 55 Handicap over 1600m and 52 start veteran Bandit Bay brought up career win number six with a gritty and tenacious effort to hold out Classique, who was another placing for Paul Perry. Loading closed off well from the back to run third while the Terry Evans trained Chaos stuck on well late to be not far away in fourth spot. Bandit Bay started favourite, which ended a horror afternoon for the bookies while the punters could celebrate Australia Day in good style.

In a first for the Tuncurry Racetrack a business has sponsored an entire race day and it was the Great Lakes Advocate who lead the way.  

Sales and site manager Kelly Payne was delighted with the turn out.

 “It was a fabulous afternoon of country racing. Garry McQuillan and his team do it so well.”