Julie Maughan's Raceday Report Friday 23 December 2016 - Mitch Faulkner

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"

With the bell sounding Faulkner made his way into the three wide running line before pulling away from the field in the back straight.

"He is the sort of horse who needs to be out and running" added Faulkner with Somebeach N Clovelly notching up career win number seven.

"I’m happy with his last two wins –the Menangle Series heat at Tamworth and then the Christmas race" added Faulkner

"I know he is a tough horse – he won at Redcliffe racing four wide one night – he has got a lot of guts but not much speed"

"That is the way he likes to race – just keep boxing on"

Somebeach N Clovelly had a 10 metre win over Ghost Gum (Julie Weidemann) and The Muse (Craig Clegg) another three metres away third in taking out the Christmas Gift Box Pace.

"We are going to be doing a bit more travel with him – he is in the Maitland Inter City Pace heat on Friday night"

Mitch Faulkner then had more celebration in taking out the Prydes Easifeed Golden Guitar Jan 22 Ladyship Pace with Sassy Shannon.

The win of Sassy Shannon gave Faulkner a winning double as a reinsman with Sassy Shannon trained at Armidale by John Enks.