Julie Maughan's Race Meeting Report Thursday 27th November 2014

Harness racing is a great family sport and Thursdays harness meeting at Tamworth was testament to that with plenty of family involvement in the winners circle.

For Tamworth HRC Board member Robert Betts and his father Brian watching their pacer Another Dreamer greet the judge made for a great day at the track.

Trained at Cessnock by Cameron Davies, it was Davies who also took the reins behind Another Dreamer in the Live or Die @ Nevele R Competitive Stakes.

Itaintrocketscience (Lola Weidemann) led the field, with Another Dreamer grabbing victory on the line by a half head over Itaintrocketscience and Will Thrill (Peter Hedges) 1 metre away third.

“He is improving with every run” said Davies “it was a pretty close finish and racing wide is not his go but he handled it” added Davies.

Brian and Rob Betts were then looking for a double when their other pacer Alyeska Dream fronted up for the following event, the Tamworth Remedial Massage Centre Competitive Stakes, but it was not to be the case.

Ride On A Rainbow trained by Ernie Mabbott at Tamworth had a 2.7 metre win over Alyeska Dream in taking out the 1609 m event with a MR of 2.04.2.

“He has been going well and he is a different horse in front” said reinsman Anthony Varga “Ernie is pretty happy with this win as he owns the horse himself with his wife Ursula”.

Alyeska Dream, is trained by local identity Ian “Spud” Verning and was handled by 16 yo Tom Ison.

Illtelyawat (Peter Missen), who is trained at Uralla by Kevin Ward was another 4 metres away third.

Mother knows best and for 17 y.o. Jackson McDonald he followed his mother’s race directions well when he drove Ablissfullgift for a win in the Inaugural Nevele R Stud Ladyship Classic.

Lisa McDonald trains Ablissfullgift at Fullerton Cove, and was pleased with the win in the feature race of the day.

 “I have had five winning drives now, four for mum and one for Michael Formosa and that was my second drive at Tamworth” said young Jackson.

“We have had her (Ablissfullgift) for less than 20 starts now and we are happy with the mare” said Lisa McDonald “It is like role reversal now as Jackson use to strap for me and I would drive but now it is the other way around”

“I might have been a good grandstand driver today but she has won four races for us now” said Lisa “my last winning drive was at Tamworth with Last Chance Alfie” added McDonald who many know as Lisa Thompson.

In a photo finish Ablissfullgift scored the win by half a head over I Want Candy (Peter Hedges) and Cockys Fancy (Lola Weidemann) another half head away third.

Jackson McDonald also received The Pub Drive of the Day for his efforts behind Ablissfullgift

The mother and son added to their win at Tamworth when they fronted up to the Newcastle meeting to have a win with Bye The Clouds at Newcastle on Tuesday.

Local reinsman Danny Mackney was happy when he was offered the drive behind Mister Elegant in the Garrards 2YO Trialling Sale Dec 7 Pace, for trainer Julie Weidemann but the smile was certainly increased after driving the Miles McCool-Miss Elegant gelding to a win.

Julie Weidemann trained three of the six horses engaged in the event.

Mister Elegant had a 1.5 metre win over stable mate Lonesome Mach (Julie Weidemann) and Secret Smile (Cameron Davies) third with the 1980m journey covered in 2.01.4

“He worked hard and he deserved the win” said Danny Mackney. “He got a nice cart into the race”

“When I get offered the drives I take them but it is full credit to the girls” added Mackney of the Weidemann sisters.

Julie Weidemann certainly was a happy trainer on the day as in the previous event the Changeover @ Nevele R Pace (1980m) her sister Lola guided Pepperall to a win, giving her a training double.

With Choctar Ridge (Anthony Varga) leading the field, before stepping out of his gear, Lola Weidemann took advantage and placed Pepperall in the lead and was never headed.

“It was a good run” said Weidemann “They went hard on the first turn”

The last win for Pepperall was at Tamworth back in June this year so the Clifton based sisters were confident the 5yo could repeat the feat again.

“She has won a couple around here but we thought she was in with a chance” said Lola of Pepperall.

Pepperall had a 4.7 metre win over Shannons Artwork (Peter Hedges) and Art Scene (Tom Ison) a half neck away third.

Jesss Pastime had a dazzling win in the opening event - the TAB Rewards Pace, much to the delight of Hunter Valley reinsman Peter Hedges who went on to book end the meeting and pick up several placing’s.

“I drove the mare for Tiger Markey a couple of weeks back at the trials and he said he would give me another drive” said Hedges

Jess Pastime is trained by 74 year old Gerald “Tiger” Markey who is domiciled at Williamtown and has been around harness racing for a while now.

“We got an easy quarter and she wanted to bore out a bit in the back straight but she kicked on the turn” said Hedges.

It was an all the way win for Jesss Pastime who had to withstand pressure from Enrichment, who is trained in the Hunter Valley by Clayton Harmey and was handled by Alex Wicks.

 It was a big day for Wicks as it was his third registered drive.

Jesss Pastime pulled away in the home straight and had a 2 metre win over Enrichment and Miss Presidential (Tony Missen) another 9 metres away third.

 “Peter did a good job today” said Markey as he unharnessed the Tinted Cloud-Stellas Pastime mare “I still drive and enjoy it as well”

Markey also spoke of his last visit and win at Tamworth.

“That was back when Youranut won and set a track record here” added Markey.

Youranut set a MR of 1.57.30 for the 1609m distance in December 2012 which still stands today.

Peter Hedges had a great day at Tamworth and besides driving the double behind Jesss Pastime and then Rockstar Ruler for the Peter Shepherdson stables in the last Hedges also had a second for the stables with Shannons Artwork and I Want Candy and a third with Will Thrill.

Hedges also trained and drove Sporty Belle to a win at the Newcastle meeting earlier in the week and races the filly with his father Kerry and sister Angela.

Rockstar Ruler showed his followers a plucky win at Tamworth in taking out the TAB.APP Pace by  2.4 metres  over Machofdistinction (Craig Clegg) and Hangover Joe (Cameron Davies) another 5 metres away third.

 “I’m having a good run” said reinsman Peter Hedges “It’s always good to come up here (Tamworth) and drive winners”

Julie Maughan