Julie Maughan's Race Meeting Report Sunday 4th January 2015

 

Bendemeer trainer Peter Rippon has a tough decision now as to the next start for Major Deed after the gelding won the Country Music Festival Racing January 14,18,& 23 Pace at Tamworth last Sunday.

Wife Cindy took charge of the reins behind the Art Major- C C Lobell gelding on Sunday at Tamworth and from barrier four charged straight to the lead – never to be headed and was 0.1 outside the track record set by Youranut back in December 2012.

"I didn’t think we were going quite that quick but I knew we were running along" said Rippon after the race "I let him run a bit of a pace so they couldn’t run over the top of us and he did that quite well"

For the 1609 metres Major Deed settled on a MR of 1.57.4.

Major Deed has been "knocking at the door" this season with five placing’s from eight starts before the win, his ninth in his racing career.

"I am surprised with the time but then again I am not surprised" said Rippon "He has got some ability this little fella and the trainer has done a good job"

With only the one horse in work at present Major Deed is lapping up all the attention from both Peter and Cindy Rippon.

"He has been consistent and he has been happy around the stables" said Rippon

Major Deed had a 1.3 metre win over Kates Attitude (Scotty-Jon Welsh) and In Default (Barton Cockburn) 2.8 metres away third.

 

Queensland trainer Dayl March had a great time at the Tamworth Christmas Eve meeting in driving a double but alas the Christmas cheer was gone the following week.

After a track work accident March is now nursing a fractured shoulder and is sitting on the sidelines and had to send an SOS out to Barton Cockburn to travel to Tamworth to drive his horses.

"I am the local watchman today" said Cockburn after the win of Magnussen in the Kidszone Tamworth Pace (1980m).

It’s a History Maker (Anthony Varga) led the field with Magnussen racing out in the breeze.

Cockburn let Magnussen slide along in the back straight on the final occasion, which was to his benefit, as Magnussen had a 5.5 metre win over Mister Armageddon (Lola Weidemann) and Machofdistintion (Craig Clegg) 1.2 metres away third.

With the impending Country Music Race Carnival about to commence at Tamworth Cockburn was indicating both he and March will make the return trip.

"I think Dayl is weighing up the Golden Guitar at the moment" said Cockburn "but I will be bringing Goldplay back to defend her title"

Goldplay won the 2014 running of the Golden Guitar Final with a MR of 1.58.3 over 1980 metres setting a new track record at Tamworth for both the distance and the mares title.

"I will probably also come back down for the Nugget and then come back for the Golden Guitar and have a holiday at the same time" said Cockburn.

"I really like coming to Tamworth" said Cockburn "I have a pretty good run here and the horses like it so we will keep coming back"

 

Tamworth reinsman Anthony Varga had the privilege of driving two winners in a space of 18 hours on the weekend.

Varga drove Artsu for Quirindi trainer Ron Neal in the opening event at Maitland on Saturday night and returned back to Tamworth to drive Mitrhys Magic to a win in the opening event at Tamworth on Sunday afternoon, the Summer Holiday Family Fun Day Pace (1980m).

Mitrhys Magic is raced by Varga's parents John and Noelene Varga and trained at Tamworth by Ernie Mabbott.

Taylor Shannon (Max Hughes) led the field while Mitrhys Magic was four back on the outside running line with Varga deciding as the bell rang it was time to quicken the pace on the IfIhadyourluck-Scoot On La Belle gelding.

"There was a bit of a scrimmage at the bell and I thought I would get out while I could and went three wide" said Varga "He had to do it the hard way once again but if I hadn’t have gone then I would have finished a good second".

Mitrhys Magic was resuming from a spell for the first up win by 1.9 metres with Taylor Shannon and Blucolla Moon (Scotty-Jon Welsh) 7.2 metres away third.

 

I Want Candy gave her Narrabri owners a warm welcome back to the winners circle after a run of placings.

The last win by the Four Starzzz Shark CA-Good Looking Bert mare was at Dubbo back in October last year and followed that up with five placings.

"She (I Want Candy) did deserve the win and she is an honest mare" said reinsman Peter Hedges "she has been the bridesmaid the last few times but she had luck today and went good"

Hedges went into the 1980 metre event with the thought that Queensland pacer Cockys Fancy from the Weidemann stables would be his main danger.

"My main danger Cockys Fancy was on my back but to this mare’s credit she dug deep and hung on" said Hedges "The Shepherdson’s have done a terrific job with the horse, she just keeps getting stronger and stronger so I am sure they will win a few more with her"

Chariot Duchess (Brendan James) led the field with Will Thrill (Anthony Varga) racing out in the breeze. I Want Candy was racing second last with Cockys Fancy trailing behind.

Moments before the bell sounded, Hedges sent I Want Candy three wide, rounding the field and led into the home straight on the final occasion.

I Want Candy had a 3.2 metre win over Cockys Fancy with Great Result (Craig Clegg) 3.6 metres away third.

MR was 2.01.5

 

Inverell’s Julie Hobday has collected her second winning drive in just under a month when Little Gozzo greeted the judge in the TAB Rewards Competitive Stakes at Tamworth on Sunday.

After a 13 year absence from the racetrack as a reinswoman, Hobday could not remember her last win on the Tamworth Pace but happy with the performance of Little Gozzo who was the same pacer who gave her welcome return win at Inverell back in December.

"I can’t remember my last winning drive on Tamworth, it has been a while now, but I have been doing the shows and trials but I’m back now" said Hobday.

Hobday has continued to train horses in the time, along with her father Col at Inverell but she did miss the competitive side of proceedings on the track

"Cameron Davies trains some good horses for us in the Hunter Valley" said Hobday "and we have got four in work at home"

Little Gozzo had the advantage of the one by one throughout the race but as mare turned into the home straight on the final occasion she was joined by Shine On Wicklow (Anthony Varga) and Ride On A Rainbow (Scotty-Jon Welsh) who were all vying for the win.

Hobday never gave up on Little Gozzo and in a close finish held on for a half neck win over Shine On Wicklow and Ride On A Rainbow half a head away third.

Little Gozzo paid $25.80 for the win.

 

Miss Presidential broke the drought for the Tony Missen stable, much to the delight of Missen.

"I was getting a bit cranky with no winners" joked Missen after the win.

"The team will kick along a bit now that Carnival is coming"

With stablemate Marist Rose (Peter Missen) leading the field and Penny Shannon (Max Hughes) out in the breeze Miss Presidential was on the leaders back.

As the field turned into the home straight on the final occasion Aleyska Dream raced three wide around the field and went to the lead but tired just short of the line.

Miss Presidential was gaining momentum on her run and took the 1609 metre event by a half neck over Jacks A Smarty (Stacey Weidemann) and Aleyska Dream (Peter Hedges) held on for third 3.9 metres away.

Miss Presidential has had 16 career starts under Missen’s guidance for three placing’s before the Presidential Ball-Sooner Than Later 4 yo mare broke through for the win, which saw punters receive $13.40 for the win.

 

Former Tamworth residents Peter Bullock and Max Hughes love returning to Tamworth …. especially on a winning note.

It was Gun Smoke Shannon in the Jumping Castles For You Pace (1980m) that was the success for the duo at Tamworth, who are now based at Bathurst.

"This last week has been really good for me in the winners circle" said Hughes "I didn’t know how much horse I had there today though"

Hughes was happy that 2015 has commenced on a winning note with 2014 seeing him have a bad race fall at Parkes and was out of the spider for a while.

Gun Smoke Shannon had a 3m win over a fast finishing Cruzin Elmo (Warren Grainger) and Bluechip Boy (Nathan Carroll) 1.8 metres away third.

"Peter (Bullock) has trained a few winners since Christmas and there are a couple in finals this week as well at Parkes" said Hughes who is hoping that 2015 has started on the right note for him.

"My family have come a long way to see me today" said Hughes "it is good to come back to Tamworth to drive a winner".

 

Dubbo reinsman Madison Reynolds had a smile on his face when he returned to scale after the win of Remember Kaiser in the TAB APP Three Year Old Pace

It was not just the win that made Reynolds happy but that he had beaten his brother Jordan to the finish line.

Madison Reynolds drove the Brett Pay trained Remember Kaiser to a 2.2 metre win over Glowing Courage(Jordan Reynolds) and Ghost Gum (Lola Weidemann)

"I just love beating him" said Reynolds. "Brett always does a good job with the horses and he always has a handy one"

Remember Kaiser has had six career starts, for two wins and both of those have been on the Tamworth Paceway.

Reynolds has been in the spider on each occasion, and just loves coming to Tamworth with the Major Art-Lombo Secrets 3yo colt.

"I enjoy coming to Tamworth it’s a good set up and I pick up a cheque so that’s good"

Remember Kaiser started as race favourite and went to the lead not long after the start and was never headed.

"I will be back for sure for the Carnival" added Reynolds