News Room

BETTER THAN MAX WINS TAMWORTH CITY CUP by Julie Maughan

Better Than Max was in terrific form in taking out the $12,000 Garrard’s Horse & Hound Tamworth City Cup with Sydney reinsman Brendan Barnes taking the reins.

Two years ago the 19 year old finished third in the Tamworth Cup behind the Bart Cockburn trained Katesaroyal.

This time it was a much favourable result and considering the horse and reinsman linked up just before the race the win was even more significant for Barnes who spoke highly of Better Than Max.

"He had good form going into that race" said Barnes

"I have seen the horse race around Menangle and I was confident before the race just on his class"

Golden Guitar Final by Julie Maughan

He was a 50/1 shot of winning but Magoogan turned out to be the worthy winner of the $25,000 Prydes Easifeed Golden Guitar Final for 2017 in a race that was action packed.

The win of Magoogan presented Ellalong trainer Michael Formosa his second Golden Guitar Final win – and even though he has trained two winners driving the winner seems to elude him each time.

Xavier won back in 2009 under Formosa’s training with Cameron Davies in the spider as Formosa elected to take the reins behind Staminator who finished fourth on that occasion.

Roll forward to the 2017 running and Formosa once again has two runners engaged – Somemondosomewhere and Magoogan – who both won their heats.

Formosa elected to take the reins behind Somemondosomewhere from the seven barrier while he secured the services of Mark Callaghan to take the reins behind Magoogan from the nine barrier.

The $25,000 Prydes Easifeed Golden Guitar Final at Tamworth for 2017 is shaping up as one of the best ever after six heats were conducted last Sunday evening with a track record broken in the first heat!

Julie Maughan takes a look at the heat winners and how they achieved their place in the Listed Classic race.

CULINARY DELIGHT NOW HAS GOLD LINING by Julie Maughan

If at first you don’t succeed try and try again!

That could very well have been the moto of Hunter Valley reinsman Mark Callaghan who won The Pub Group Gold Nugget at Tamworth Paceway on Wednesday night at his third attempt.

Culinary Delight – who Callaghan also trains – was the horse that placed him into the winners circle.

WESTERN SAFARI HAS NICE WIN by Julie Maughan

Western Safari literally left her opposition behind in taking out the Global Bloodstock Trophy Ladyship Pace.

The Inverell pacer – trained by Col Hobday – was handled in the race by reinsman Tom Ison – who also received The Pub Sponsored Drive of the Night for his accomplished driving skills.

"She has been racing well and just needed a "little luck" said Hobday after the win "I am real happy with the win – Tom [Ison] has been driving her all season"

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.