Mark Lowe's Carnival of Cups Report

WHAT A BEAUTY - FIRST GUITAR VICTORY

Keinbah trainer Shane Tritton took out the $20000 Pryde's EasiFeed Golden Guitar Final at Tamworth last Thursday night, 24th January 2013, at his initial attempt to win the time honoured country classic, when ex-Victorian Mach Beauty proved too strong for his opposition. Despite drawing four on the second row, driver Guy Chapple had little hesitation in taking the 4yo three wide early in the event to assume the "death seat" outside heat winner Packnplenty. Controlling the race from that position, the 9/1 chance withstood the challenge from the Ashlee Siejka trained & driven Red Vee Hanover (3/1 fav.), who sustained a three wide run for the last 850m. Third was 25/1 hope Broken Spoke (Clayton Harmey) after squeezing through near the pegs in the run home. All three placegetters finished second in their respective heats. Pre-post series favourite Medal Of Honour (2nd in his heat) was scratched due to a virus whilst his conquerer Queenslander, Enrique Of Malacca (Bart Cockburn) was a solid 5th just behind another heat winner Tulhurst Courage (Nathan Hurst). The three other heat winners Packnplenty, The Hayne Train and Make Some Magic all disappointed.

Mach Beauty, a gelding by Mach Three, has now won 8 of his 19 starts and the $12500 first prizemoney took his career earnings to over $37000. The winning time of 2.26.3 for the 1980m was just 0.6 seconds outside the track record, a mile rate of 1.58.9. The lightly raced pacer resumed from a two month let-up when having his first run for Tritton in his heat where he led and was run down. Tritton had targeted Tamworth's signature race for Mach Beauty when he was sent north by his Victorian owners and obviously the handy pacer benefited from his heat run five days earlier.

For driver Guy Chapple it was his second Golden Guitar success having previously won behind Neil Shannon in 2006, a pacer he trained himself.

Since its beginnings in 1984 the Golden Guitar series has proved to be a "stepping stone" for several talented country pacers. Some of the previous 27 winners (not run in 2008 due to EI ) that have gone onto further successes have been Pragmatic (1986), Milestone (1999), Forest Warrior (2002), Sissies Double (2003), a daughter of Pragmatic; Neddy Notcher (2005) and Emjayem Grand (2011).

The $7000 Golden Guitar Consolation went to Never A Frown for Lochinvar trainer/driver Dale Spencer, courtesy of a late split near the finish post to beat The Falcon Rainbow (Guy Chapple) and Jedi Superstar (Peter Hedges).

The other major feature on the 9 race TAB card that drew a large crowd to the Showground Paceway on a mild night, was the $10000 Pryde's EasiFeed Tamworth City Cup over 2360m which Bathurst trainer/driver Ashlee Siejka captured with Atom Of Courage. The 5/4 on favourite raced one out & four back from his outside second row alley before surging forward three wide at the bell. When Siejka cut him loose at the 400m, the son of Courage Under Fire, skipped clear and was never in danger in defeating Ohaka Utah (Kyle Pratten), who ran on well, with third to Queenslander, BG Three (Dayl March), who after being held up on the pegs midfield, made up plenty of ground. The John Brien owned 6yo gelding collected $6700 to take his career stakes to over $186000 from 20 wins & 25 placings from 82 starts.

For "pin-up" girl & Inter Dominion Ambassador Ashlee Siejka, it was the second leg of a winning double having earlier scored an all the way win with 5yo Hurrysound (11/2), who accounted for Signory Shannon (Max Hughes) & Tulhurst Candy (Nathan Hurst) in Race 1.

The $7000 Hazell's Farm & Fertilizer Services Final (3YO + C0 - C1) was little more than a "walk in the park" for Hunter Valley 3yo Ultimate Art as he strolled away to win by 38.75 metres, covering the 1980m in a rate of 2.00.0. Driver Guy Chapple had an armchair drive in front on the big colt who was sent out a 10/1 on favourite. Like in his heat win, the Michael Formosa trained son of Modern Art had "plenty left in the tank" for his 8th victory from 14 starts and has now amassed $93000 in prizemoney.

Other successes on the night went to 28/1 outsider Doctor Vancelot driven by Cindy Rippon for her husband & trainer Peter of Bendemeer (just north-east of Tamworth); ex-Sydney mare Dancing Jorocco (7/1) ran on powerfully wide out to score for Dubbo trainer/driver James Sutton, and she was having her second last career start due to retirement as she is in foal; Qld 4yo mare Flightsaber (8/1) led throughout, Jamie Donovan steering for trainer Kerry Mason and ex-Kiwi 4yo Master Firehawke (5/4 on fav.) gave leading Hunter Valley trainer/driver Rod Pike a win to conclude the three meeting harness racing carnival that coincides with the annual Country Music Festival.

On a night of great pacing action there was also plenty of other entertainment for the patrons on course provided by young up & coming Country Music singer Cameron Cusack, Tamworth's own Country Music star Aleyce Simmonds who sang the National Anthem, 10 local girls aged 14 to 21 participated in the Princess Of The Paceway that was taken out by 17yo Emily Smith, there were two hotly contested mini-trotting races and the sensational whip-cracking Wicks siblings of Gunnedah, Daniel, Katie & Brooke, thrilled all with an exillerating display of skill through a variety of routines, showing why they have won multiple Australian titles.

A bigger & better Golden Guitar carnival awaits in 2014.

Mark Lowe