Race Meeting Report Thursday 18th April 2024

INJURED TRAINER TONY MISSEN RETURNS TO SEE HE'S OUR BOY WIN

Injured Tamworth trainer Tony Missen had one wish and that was to be released from Hospital for Christmas.

Well the likeable trainer did get his wish – even if it was for the weekend – and he was able to attend the Tamworth HRC meeting - in his wheelchair – to witness one of his team He’s Our Boy take out the opening event.

Driven by Missen’s son Dean Germon He’s Our Boy had a 3.6 metre win over Midnight Montana (Richard Williams) and Royal Luck (Lola Weidemann) a half head away third in taking out the Christmas @ The Tamworth Trots Pace.

DOUBLE FOR FAULKNER IN TAKING OUT FEATURE by Julie Maughan

There was plenty of "Christmas Cheer" for Uralla trainer Mitch Faulkner after he drove Somebeach N Clovelly to a win in the Christmas Gift Box Pace over 1980 metres.

Somebeach N Clovelly – who commenced from the pole and also as race favourite – landed in the one by one race position not long after the start with Nowra pacer Benji M Brogden (Madi Young) leading the field.

"The horse is hard work but he is worth it" said Faulkner after the win of the Mach Three CA-Clovelly Beach six year old gelding "I didn’t really want to hand the lead up"

CULINARY DELIGHT WINS DASH FOR CASH by Julie Maughan

Culinary Delight set a new track record in taking out the $8,000 BMR Quarries Dash For Cash at Paceway Tamworth.

Trained out of Morisset by Mark Callaghan who also took the reins behind the Lis Mara – Culinary Affair six year old mare who had an 11 metre win over her opposition and smashed the track record set by Shootforthestarzzz - 1min 56 sec -back in 2014.

Culinary Delight made a gastronomic feast of the 1230 metres when she clocked 1min 53.6 sec!

"That was a very quick mile rate around here" said Callaghan.

VARGA WINS ON BIRTHDAY by Julie Maughan

The win of Mitrhys Magic was possibly the best way reinsman Anthony Varga could have chosen to celebrate his 27th birthday!

"I think the run at Maitland topped him off nice" stated Varga when he returned to scale at Paceway Tamworth.

Mitrhys Magic came into the Johns Auto Service Pace off a second to Captain Rockey at Maitland the Sunday prior over the 1646 metre distance.

"He came back to a bit more distance tonight" added Varga.

YES BROTHER YES TOPS THE NIGHT FOR CARROLL by Julie Maughan

Yes Brother Yes really summed up the night of wins for Maitland reinsman Nathan Carroll.

Carroll who recently turned 22 was on a wave of success in driving three winners at Tamworth for three different trainers.

The Jared Hetherington trained Anna Bay Al was the first of Carroll’s wins in the Wests Melbourne Cup Luncheon November 1 Pace.

Major Charlie then stepped up from the Stacey Elliott stables to have a half neck win over Dontbefoolish (Lola Weidemann) and Tooram Lad (Madi Young) 1.7 metres away third in the Wests Entertainment Group Competitive Stakes (1609m).

Yes Brother Yes from the Ricky Gordon stables then wrapped up the final event – Mercure Tamworth Opening December Lordship Pace (1980m).

WINS FOR HUNTER VALLEY TRAINERS

Hunter Valley trainers Stacey Elliott and Jamie Bond headed home as winning trainers at the season opener for the Tamworth HRC.

Elliott who is based at Keinbah won with Cody Shannon while Maitland based Bond had a back to back training feat with Ultimate Ace.

Maddie Bond drove Ultimate Ace to perfection to take out the Global Bloodstock Trophy Pace and also gain The Pub sponsored Drive of the Day

WEIDEMANNS BACK IN FORM AT TAMWORTH

Clifton based sisters Julie and Lola Weidemann kicked the new season off on the right hoof at Tamworth last Sunday October 2nd.

Julie as the trainer had three winners whilst sister Lola matched her in the driving stakes with three wins and niece Stacey raised the odds with a winning drive as well.

GREAT RESULT WINS AT TAMWORTH

Daniel Morgan had a great result at Tamworth on Sunday night – well it was Great Result that handed him the winner.
The young Hunter Valley reinsman accepted the drive behind Great Result for trainer Craig Clegg and the Bettors Delight-Two Mums eight year old mare produced her fifth win for the season in taking out the Vale N.J. "Billy" Barraclough Pace (1609m).
“She is a nice little sit and sprint horse and did that tonight” said Morgan who also received The Pub sponsored Drive of the Night for his efforts.

DUST OFF THE COBWEBBS

Iownaturbo dusted off the cobwebs for her trainer Alan Goodhand.
Although it was the three year olds fifth career win Goodhand couldn’t establish when his last winner was as a trainer!
“You will have to look in the archives” joked Goodhand with word that it may well have been back in 2005 that he trained his last winner!
Recently retired Goodhand decided it was time to take up the challenge of harness racing once again and what better way than with one that you have bred.
“It feels pretty good. I have retired from work now and just play with the horses. It’s a hobby – we are just having fun and that’s what it’s all about”

IDLE HANDS WINS TAMWORTH MARATHON

Idle Hands is one fit horse – especially after winning the 2730 metre Psarakis Accounting Marathon at Tamworth and the gelding still had plenty in reserve to break the track record.
Trained by Dean Germon at Tamworth it is the first time the six year old has raced over the Marathon distance and with Josh Osborn in the spider clocked 2.02.6 – breaking the race record set by Leighmont back in 2014 with a mile rate of 2.03.10.
“Once he got in the clear I was pretty confident he was going to round them up” said Osborn.

SULLIVAN DOES IT AGAIN

Forbes reinsman Murray Sullivan made the return trip to Tamworth last Thursday and was once again in the winner’s circle – twice in fact!
Sullivan drove a double at the Tamworth meeting two weeks prior and with the prospect of 10 hours travel time for the round trip he certainly wanted to go back home a winner.

TOM Ison and Hyabusa Flyer

“I was a bit nervous after the fall last week but to get the win today has certainly put the confidence back there” said Ison after the win of Hayabusa Flyer who is trained by Graham Moon and raced by his wife Jenny.
“It was a pearler of a run.

Davies Double at Tamworth

Cameron Davies liked the results from the Tamworth HRC meeting last Thursday – especially after he trained a double and drove a winner himself.
“I feel very good to be able to have a training double here today” simpered Davies. “It sort of makes up after last week”

Murray Sullivan double at Tamworth

Forbes reinsman Murray Sullivan knows how to become admired after driving two winners at the Tamworth meeting last Thursday.
Sullivan’s first win for the day came courtesy of Montana Shadow in the THRC Membership Pace (1609m) after just making it to the line after initially having a handy hold on the field as they rounded the final turn.

EL KAY GRAND GIVES JOY TO OWNER AND TRAINER

"I just like harness racing – it’s a great sport" that is how Henry Campbell summed it up after his mare El Kay Grand had a victory at Tamworth.

Campbell who is domiciled at Tamworth has El Kay Grand in the Mitch Faulkner stables who trains out of Uralla.

"She has got a nice little turn of foot but we haven’t had a good barrier draw to test her out" said Faulkner who handled the Bettors Delight USA-Kayceem Grand mare in the race.

In fact El Kay Grand had her win at the second attempt of running the Rising Star Sam Ison Pace after a fall in the first endeavour saw Ima Toastmasta with James Harding in the spider hit the track and two reinsmen in Tom Ison and Peter Missen being dislodged from their carts.

MITCH CHAPPLE DELIVERS THE GOODS

How much more can one celebrate at a harness meeting – well for Maitland’s Mitch Chapple that is easy – just keep the party rolling or should we say races.

Chapple dove his first career winning double at Tamworth – in back to back races - and also picked up The Pub sponsored Drive of the Day.

The congenial Hunter Valley reinsman guided Anna Bay Al to an impressive win before hopping straight back in the gig to keep the merriment flowing for a win with Modern Edition.

COLLINS NEAR MISS AT TAMWORTH

Paul Collins headed to the Tamworth meeting with three horses and the trainer was so close to enjoying the raptures of three wins- but instead had to be content with a win and two seconds.

For Collins – a former resident of Warialda north of Tamworth many moons ago – he enjoys the drive up the highway to do battle on the Tamworth Paceway.

"I love coming back here" said Collins