Race Meeting Report Thursday 18th April 2024

EMARGEE WINS THE JOAN BULLOCK MEMORIAL by Julie Maughan

Emargee had an all the way win in taking out the Joan Bullock Memorial at Tamworth on Sunday evening in what looked like a comfortable win but for trainer and reinsman Ricky Gordon he had to defended the victory in the Stewards room.

When Emargee shifted out down the home straight it allowed Rocknroll Annie from the Weidemann stables to take an inside run over the concluding stages.

It was a relief for Gordon when the Stewards gave the all clear and the Queenslander was happy to celebrate – especially after driving seven and half hours from Marburg to contest the feature race.

Tamworth trainer Barry Schipp maybe spacing the runs of his mare Tact Maria but he is most certainly securing some results with the method.

After commencing from barrier seven on Sunday night at the Tamworth Paceway Tact Maria had a convincing win in the Bearing Accessories Local Pace (1980m)

WILLIAMS GETS A WINNER by Julie Maughan

Former Queensland trainer Richard Williams has finally landed in the winner’s circle after a handy win in the Brian Betts 70th Birthday Pace with Coralie Joy.

A decision to stay in Tamworth and develop up a team is finally paying dividends with Williams nearly achieving a training double on Sunday night but had to be content with just one – Coralie Joy.

Williams was returning Midnight Montana to the Paceway after the gelding was retired from his race the meeting before when Williams was tipped from the gig but showed great skills to hang onto the reins and the horse on that occasion.

The only casualty was a new set of driving pants and a new set of colours after they were ripped as Williams was dragged along the track.

SUTHERLAND DRIVES HER WINNER by Julie Maughan

When you accomplish your first winning drive in this industry it is something you cherish for ever.

For Manilla reinswoman Courtney Sutherland she now has that first win on the board after wrapping up the Carnival of Cups meeting when she won the final event.

Sutherland enjoyed her first winning drive behind Jax Tellar – a horse that is trained by her father Chris with Courtney racing the gelding in partnership with her mother Donna.

IM WITH LEXY TAKES OUT STARMAKER by Julie Maughan

"She went good – she went super" was how Bathurst trainer Bernie Hewitt summed up the win of I’m With Lexy in the $15,000 Tamworth HRC Star Maker Final.

"I thought she was capable of winning it – she is starting to get to the top of her game" said Hewitt.

I’m With Lexy – a three year old Roll With Joe USA- Laughing Lexy filly – has now had 17 race starts for four wins and nine placings.

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.

VARGA WINS ON BIRTHDAY by Julie Maughan

The win of Mitrhys Magic was possibly the best way reinsman Anthony Varga could have chosen to celebrate his 27th birthday!

"I think the run at Maitland topped him off nice" stated Varga when he returned to scale at Paceway Tamworth.

Mitrhys Magic came into the Johns Auto Service Pace off a second to Captain Rockey at Maitland the Sunday prior over the 1646 metre distance.

"He came back to a bit more distance tonight" added Varga.

YES BROTHER YES TOPS THE NIGHT FOR CARROLL by Julie Maughan

Yes Brother Yes really summed up the night of wins for Maitland reinsman Nathan Carroll.

Carroll who recently turned 22 was on a wave of success in driving three winners at Tamworth for three different trainers.

The Jared Hetherington trained Anna Bay Al was the first of Carroll’s wins in the Wests Melbourne Cup Luncheon November 1 Pace.

Major Charlie then stepped up from the Stacey Elliott stables to have a half neck win over Dontbefoolish (Lola Weidemann) and Tooram Lad (Madi Young) 1.7 metres away third in the Wests Entertainment Group Competitive Stakes (1609m).

Yes Brother Yes from the Ricky Gordon stables then wrapped up the final event – Mercure Tamworth Opening December Lordship Pace (1980m).