January Carnival Review by Mark Lowe

GOLD, GOLD, GOLD

The 3 meeting Country Music Festival "Gold" Carnival at Tamworth produced some fine performances and records on the track plus entertainment off-track.

The Pub Group Gold Nugget on Thursday January 13th went to the local 5yo Any Cause for trainer Anthony Mabbott, thanks to a superb drive by 21 year old junior reinsman Anthony Varga. Fired out of the gate from barrier 4, the 23/1 shot, led before taking a trail on Last Blue Jean. Over the 2360m journey, Varga bided his time and managed to squeeze up along the pegs in the final 100 metres to down the leader, with the late finishing Jennas Ranger 3rd. The south coast owned Any Cause collected $5400 plus the coveted $3000 Gold Nugget.

The four 1980metre heats of the Pryde's EasiFeed Golden Guitar highlighted the January 16th meeting with Leveltwo (Michael Formosa) leading most of the way to win Heat1 in a rate of 2.00.7, from Hey Ima Beach Girl and Not Too Proud. Heat2 went to the Gunnedah trained 37/1 outsider Notsure, for Milton Muggleton. After racing behind the leader (from gate 9), driver Dean Chapple extracted the 8yo at the 400metres to hold off the fast finishing, wide out, Jasper Gold in a rate of 2.01.2. Hunter Valley 4yo mare Starryart (Ty Robson) raced wide and in the death in Heat3 before out-toughing local hope and leader Tuscan Abbe, with 3rd to Shechoseus, in a rate of 2.00.9. The fourth and final heat produced a cracking pace with Goulburn 4yo mare Make Your Move (Neil Day) leading and being attacked before drawing clear to win by 14 metres in the quickest rate of 1.59.7 from Hes So Cool and Safe Guy.

The carnival concluded on Friday 21st January with the "Carnival of Cups" meet featuring the $20,000 Pryde's EasiFeed Golden Guitar Final and the $10,000 Pryde's EasiFeed Tamworth City Cup.

The 1980metre Golden Guitar Final produced a cracking pace from the start with Starryart (3) holding off Tuscan Abbe (5) in a frantic first lap. With 600 metres to travel Make Your Move (7) took off four wide from near the rear and quickly reached the front, wideout all the while being stalked by Cental Coast 8yo Jasper Gold (Mark Callaghan) which got up in the last few strides to win by a neck in a new track record of 2.25.6 (rate 1.58.4), taking 0.3 seconds off the locally owned Enjayem Grand's 2010 Golden Guitar Final record. Third place went to Starryart. The winner Jasper Gold is trained by Roy Roots jnr, who also won twice with Sylvesterbrosbread at his first Tamworth Carnival attempt.

The Tamworth City Cup 2360m also produced an early frantic pace with Cobla Mickaroy holding out Any Cause and the favourite Armagedon Flame. However it was once again the late swoopers that got the spoils. After racing in the death-seat Armagedon Flame (Damien Smith) rolled to the lead at the 400m, all the time looking vulnerable. Tracking through, but blocked on the outside, young Western Districts driver Mat Rue cut back to the pegs on Foolish Kiss before rounding up the leader and holding off the late surging Jennas Ranger (Michael Formosa). A half-head by 1.5metres separated the placegetters. Foolish Kiss is prepared at Dubbo by Michael Pay and the 15/1 chance, a 6yo mare is raced by the Ford family, making amends for her 2nd in the 2010 Gold Nugget.

Besides the great action on the track, that featured a treble to the Tamworth combination of trainer Anthony Mabbott and driver Anthony Varga on the final night with Art Scene, Woodybegood and Twoforthepriceofone, there was a keen calcutta, the mini-trotters, "bouncing pony" races, country music entertainment by youngster Cameron Cusack (Starmaker Finalist 2011) and Damien Agius (2011 Country Music College attendee) and local multiple Country Music Award Finalist Brian Letton sung the National Anthem.

The only sad note was that it will be the last Golden Guitar meet on the present 750metre showground track, as the next carnival will be raced on the new Tamworth Racing Precinct 950metre track.