2013 Carnival Update

Mark Lowe's Carnival Update Tuesday 22nd January 2013

DUBBO DESTROYER TAKES GOLD

Tamworth commenced their 2013 Country Music Harness Racing Carnival on Wednesday January 16th with a mammoth 10 race TAB card. The good crowd braved the heat to see one of Australia's favourite pacers in action and were not disappointed as Karloo Mick, the "Dubbo Destroyer" did just that in The Pub Group $10000 Gold Nugget, destroying his opposition by 17.25 metres. His winning mile rate was 1.59.4 for the 2360m, just outside the track record. The Barry Lew trained 12yo worked forward three wide from barrier 10 to sit outside the leader for the last 1500m and under the urging of Robbie Morris, the 5/1 on favourite drew away to beat Liberalitis (who came from last) with local C4 hope and leader Gotta Feeling third. The $6700 prizemoney and $2300 gold nugget took Karloo Mick's career earnings to $1.476m from 64 wins & 59 placings from 158 starts. It was probably the last time the veteran pacer will be seen in the north. For part owner Ronda Lew, Barry's wife, it was extremely satisfying to return to Tamworth to win one of the Club's signature races as she had previously managed the Club for a number of years.

Leading Sydney concession driver 21yo Robbie Morris also had a memorable night of driving at Tamworth for the first time, with a treble as he also won on Rocknroll Diva for Roy Roots Snr and took out the C0 Final behind Gotta Go Lucky for Mark Callaghan.

On the support card Western Districts trainer/driver Nathan Hurst produced a double with Tulhurst Candy and Regal Eagle, kicking off his second "pilgrimage" to the Country Music Capital much better than in 2012. Leading Hunter Valley trainer/driver Rod Pike, an ex-local, won the C1-C3 Final with Educated Lady after enjoying a perfect trail.

Amber Chloe was a surprise winner for fellow Hunter Valley mentor Shane Tritton with Guy Chapple steering and Michael Formosa continued the trend when his 3yo Bellas Charm led throughout when handled by Kyle Pratten. Yet another from the coalfields was succesful when the lightly raced 3yo Black Belt resumed from a spell to score for trainer/driver Clayton Harmey.

The only local pacer to win on opening night was Due Cause for Tamworth mentor Ernie Mabbott. The 22/1 chance led all the way for Dubbo junior reinsman Nathan Carroll.

VERY EVEN GOLDEN GUITAR HEATS

Much cooler weather on night 2, Sunday January 20, had a larger crowd in attendance for the Heats of the time honoured Golden Guitar Series, which is run each year to coincide with the Country Music Awards.

The five heats were run over the 1980m from the mobile barrier.

In Heat 1 former Kiwi 5yo The Hayne Train led throughout for H/V trainer/driver Rod Pike, and although pressured, toughed it out to score a 1.5 m victory over Broken Spoke (Josh Osborn), who enjoyed the one-one sit.

Heat 2 saw Packnplenty, trained and driven by Ashlee Seijka of Bathurst, punch forward three wide to the death seat before downing leader Beth Shannon (Max Hughes) by a head.

In Heat 3 Queenslander Enrique Of Malacca, trained & driven by Bart Cockburn, enjoyed a three wide trail in the last 800m behind 3/1 on favourite Medal Of Honour (Ash Seijka) and powered away to beat that pacer by 3.25m.

Heat 4 had Bathurst mare Make Some Magic (Angela Hedges for Nathan Hurst) enjoy the cold sit behind leader Mach Beauty (Guy Chapple), before edging out the ex-Victorian by a half head in an two horse "war" over the final 400m.

The 5th & Final Heat produced the easiest win, by 9metres, when the Nathan Hurst trained & driven Tulhurst Courage sprinted hard, four wide, from 650m out and stole a winning break on 5/4 favourite Red Vee Hanover (Ash Seijka). who was held up between runners, only to get out late and flash home to grab the last qualifying berth. All five heat winners recorded very similar mile rates, around two minutes.

Ashlee Seijka, an Ambassador for the upcoming Sydney Inter Dominion, qualified the three pacers she brought up and fellow Bathurst mentor Nathen Hurst qualified two and for both they are chasing their initial Golden Guitar at their second attempts. Leading Hunter Valley trainers Rod Pike & Shane Tritton will also attempt to win the"big one" for the first time & Qld "young gun" Bart Cockburn is back to try to do likewise.

Thursday's $20000 Final is the most even in recent years and all ten runners are in with a chance. The 2012 winner was a bolter, Tiger Island for Queenslander Ricky Thurlow.

The other four races on night 2 were Heats of the 3YO + C0-C1 1980m.

In Heat 1 in-form Hunter Valley 4yo Hate To Waite raced three wide for the last 900m but still proved too strong for Recede in a rate of 2.02.5.

Heat 2 produced an upset when local 4yo Scottish Dancer at 23/1 enjoyed a great trail throughout before running on three wide to score by 5.5m for trainer Tony Missen with young Qld reinsman Rob Gorman in the spider, second was Estampido in a slow rate of 2.05.1.

In the Third Heat it was a walk in the park for classy 3yo Ultimate Art (Guy Chapple for Michael Formosa), who led all the way from gate two to win untouched by 8.25m from Tommy Shannon in a rate of 2.00.5. It was the big colt's 7th win from 13 starts for over $88000 in stakes and he will be a "hot" favourite for Thursday's $7500 Final.

Heat 4 went to local 9yo Bad Trouble (Josh Osborn) to give trainer Tony Missen a double on his 51st birthday. After racing three back on the pegs, the 8/1 shot ran on well to hold off another fast finisher Another Mach.

Besides these two Finals Thursday's 9 race program includes the $10000 Tamworth City Cup (drawn together a great field) plus Country Music singer Aleyce Simmonds performing the National Anthem, the Princess of the Paceway crowning, mini trotting races and a display of whipcracking from multiple Australian champion Daniel Wicks & his equally talented sisters Brooke & Katie.

Mark Lowe