Classics Successful Return

CLASSICS SUCCESSFUL RETURN

After a 20 year absence two North West classics, the Derby & Oaks were contested at Tamworth last Thursday, April 24 in magnificent autumn weather.

The $7500 John's Auto Service North West Derby 1980m produced a quinella for ex-local trainer Peter Bullock. Now domiciled at Bathurst, Bullock drove Haka Shannon (Bettors Delight-Falcon Black Beauty) to a 7m victory over stablemate Smack Dab Shannon (Michael Munro), with High Class Mate third. The 10/9 favourite, a gelding with 9 wins from his previous 27 starts, was sent forward early from his back row draw to sit outside the leader before scoring well in a rate of 2.00.7 to collect $4500 as well as automatic entry into the Mark Colin Packaging Newcastle Derby on May 3.

The $7500 TAB Rewards North West Oaks 1980m saw a similar scenario as classy Forbes filly Freedom Is (Courage Under Fire-Alegria) left a one-one trail to assume the "death-seat" in recording a 3 1/2m win over Gee Tee Wage & Cammy's Star.The winner of 5 of her 9 starts this campaign for owner/trainer Phil Thurston was capably handled by Michael Formosa, who had his hands full as the 5/1 on favourite pulled hard throughout. Thurston purchased Freedom Is from New Zealand as a yearling and broke her in. She was placed 5 of her 13 two year old runs, some in good company, before putting it all together this season. The $4500 prizemoney took her eranings to $55000 and she is now headed for a Qld winter campaign and will bypass the Nevele R Stud Newcastle Oaks on May 9 for which she gained automatic entry.

For Formosa it was the second leg of a winning double having earlier won behind his own trained 4yo gelding Lifesa Ranger ( Life Sign-Dilly Dally Ranger) in the TAB Pace 1609m. After sitting "parked" throughout the 6/4 sec.fav. sprinted the last 800m in 58.3 to score easily by 16 1/2m. However, that wasn't the easiest win of the day as that honour went to Tamworth trainer/driver Tony Missen on 5yo My Red Ruby (Dream Away-My Cherie) who led all the way for a 36 3/4m victory in the TAB Pace 1980m. The 10/9 on favourite rated 2.01.3 to record her second win on the track since joining the Missen stable.

Another Tamworth trainer to enjoy success was veteran Russell Murray with his 4yo Cody Shannon ( Dawn Ofa New Day-Caroline Shannon) in the Tamworth Shoppingworld Newsagency Pace 1609m, thanks to a great drive by Gunnedah reinswoman Sally Torrens. After drawing two on the second row the gelding was positioned one out two back by Torrens before she made a 3 wide run coming to the bell. After managing to hop into the one-one for a "breather" down the back, Torrens again attacked three wide to gain a 5 1/2m win over  ex-Broken Hill 10yo Smart Cecil. The 11/1 chance rated  2.00.3 and for her superb efforts Torrens earnt The Pub Drive of the Day Award.

An equally quality drive by Qlder Lola Weidemann got the Uralla trained Well Caught Marsh (Falcon Seelster-Seafield Pearl) home in the Roselyn Chaff Pace 1609m. After drawing outside the second line, Weidemann "punched" through into the one-one shortly after the start before rolling to the lead after 600m. The 9yo gelding, prepared by Mitch Faulkner, surprisingly went around at 44/1 despite winning at Newcastle on April 3 in 1.57.0 and despite being well-graded as a R15/C14 in a R4 or better. He scored by 2 1/4m in a rate of 1.58.1.

The win also provided Weidemann with a double having earlier led all the way on 7yo Dancing Cam (Cammibest- Dancing Nukes) in the TAB App. Pace 1609m. The gelding is trained by her sister Julie who also bred & owns him.

The other winner was another visitor 5yo Downtools (Union Guy-Mydiva) in the Lest We Forget Pace 1609m for Sawyers Gully trainer/driver Rod Pike. The 7/4 fav.overcame a back row draw and racing without cover for a 2m win in 1.59.3.

Tamworth race again on Thusday afternoon May 8.

Mark Lowe