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
RISING STAR BRAD ELDER
Brad Elder had plenty of practice at the Tamworth meeting driving three winners before heading to Sydney to represent the Hunter Valley in the 2016 Rising Star Series.
The 18 year old was looking forward to the series alongside local Sam Ison who was set to represent the North West.
Elder had three wins at Tamworth for three different trainers.
"I don’t come up here real often but do good when we do" said Elder of his Tamworth campaign – which gave him his first winning treble at the Paceway.
Harding Harding Harding
Bobs Farm reinsman James Harding cleaned up at the Tamworth meeting driving three winners on the program.
Harding kicked home his first winner – trained by his father Geoff - when Sackheim won the Thread Effects Two and Three Year old Pace over the 1609 metres.
“He came out great at Newcastle last start and I was pretty sure he would hold them today” said Harding after the win.
NATTY STABLES HAVE A DOUBLE AT TAMWORTH
Ken Natty trained two winners at last Thursday’s Tamworth meeting having to wait for the penultimate and the last to produce the goods.
Leighmont – driven by Sam Ison – won the Hazells Farm & Fertilizers Service Pace whilst Jedi Superstar – driven by Sarah Rushbrook – took out the BMR Quarries Pace.
Ken Natty owns and trains both the pacers and works them on the Tamworth Paceway with a small team of only three in work.
"Leighmont raced true to his form" said Natty "when Sam pulled the horse out and let him run he did the job real good"
MY POPPA PROVES A HANDY PURCHASE
My Poppa had an all the way win in taking out the Tamworth Trophy Supplies Pace last Thursday at Tamworth and it was only by chance the six year old gelding gained a start as he was the first emergency.
“He has got some gate speed – he was emergency so lucky he got the run” said part owner and trainer Aaron Garaty who also handled the driving in the 1609 metre event.
HIGH ON DREAMS DEFIES HIS TRAINER FOR SECOND WIN
The win of High On Dreams in the Changeover and Live Or Die Droughtbreaker Mile Final at Tamworth last Thursday was somewhat of a surprise for trainer Dean Germon.
"He won’t win another race" – well that was the light hearted reaction of Dean Germon when High On Dreams cracked his maiden status with an all the way win at Inverell the week prior at race start 69.
Roll forward four days after the eight year old gelding’s first career win and High On Dreams wraps up the Final at Tamworth.
Droughtbreaker for The Matrix at Tamworth
For Bathurst trainer Nathan Hurst the win of The Matrix in the second heat the Live or Die Droughtbreaker Mile Heat 2 also heralded a winning double as both a trainer and reinsman.
MAGIC MADDIE BREAKS HER DROUGHT
The drought has been broken for Magic Maddie – that’s the winning drought!
Tamworth HRC hosted two heats of the Droughtbreaker Series last week and the Cameron Davies trained Magic Maddie was the first to break through in taking out the Changeover Droughtbreaker Mile.
“It was a really good run” said Davies after the win “She got a bit of luck which is needed around here (Tamworth)”
Old Boys Pace
“It was an oldie but a goodie” could have quite possibly summed up the day at Tamworth last Thursday when the Club hosted many old trainers and drivers on their old stomping ground.
They may have been arch enemies on the track in years gone by but they certainly showed they valued their friendships- with plenty of tales being told – whilst watching some tough competition happening on the paceway.
Wings of Desire had his own “surprise party” in taking out the opening event – the TAB Rewards Pace - but the gelding forgot to send an invite to his trainer Paul York.
York was literally the last to learn of the win as the Australia Post Manager (New England Operations) was away at a work meeting in Shoal Bay – with his phone turned off!
What a surprise when York looked at the results later that day.
“After I turned the phone on I heard all the messages come through and when I looked at the results I saw he (Wings of Desire) had won. I went “shivers he has won” chuckled York.