Julie Maughan's Race Meeting Report Wednesday 24th December 2014

Village Xibbit just loves the thought of Christmas and Santa Claus, and the proof is in the pudding!

The Hunter Valley pacer looked at home in winning the opening event at last week’s Tamworth HRC meeting, the Peter McNamara Photography Pace (1980m).

With the meeting staged on Christmas Eve it is not the first time that the six y.o. mare has achieved a win on such a night.

“She (Village Xibbit) has got a good record here and she likes a good track. Two years ago she won on Christmas Eve as well” said trainer Jamie Bond who prepares Village Xibbit for his wife Kristy.

The previous win on Christmas Eve by the Village Jasper-Bondibbit mare coincidentally was also at Tamworth on Christmas Eve back in 2011, and from the same barrier.

“She had the same draw then of seven as well” added Bond.

With Itaintrocketscience (Julie Weidemann) leading the field, Bond had Village Xibbit sitting right on the leaders back with Lavros Flash (Peter Hedges) racing out in the breeze.

When the field turned into the back straight on the final occasion Lavros Flash dropped off and Bond worked Village Xibbit into the race, sitting outside Itaintrocketscience.

Village Xibbit paid $13.10 for the win and went on to a 1.9 metre win over Itaintrocketscience (Julie Weidemann) and Nics Best (Daniel Morgan) another metre away third.

“She got a nice run at the right time” said Bond

More proof that Village Xibbit is a ‘Chrissy horse” was revealed when Bond let it be known that Santa had used the services of Village Xibbit at Newcastle the week prior.

 “She (Village Xibbit) was Santa’s horse at last week’s Newcastle meeting delivering all the presents to the kids” said Bond. “She has got a good Christmas record”

Bond’s daughter Maddie then came out in the following event the Reindeer Use Pryde’s Easifeed Competitive Stakes (1609m) with Passthehataround who finished second to it’s a History Maker (Anthony Varga).

 

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Itsa History Maker commenced as race favourite in the running of the Reindeer Use Prydes Easifeed Competitive Stakes and for reinsman Anthony Varga he was a bit surprised when he did not gain the lead from barrier two.

“I didn’t expect to lose the lead and down the back I was a bit worried” said the reinsman

Varga had to be content to sit on the leaders back, Marist Rose (Tony Missen) who shot out of the gate and was joined by Corbin Lee (Len Simon) racing out in the breeze.

“When I saw one drop off I knew I was home from there and it was game over” said Varga.

Turning into the home straight on the final occasion Varga gained a split and sent Itsa History Maker three wide to come away for a 3 metre win over Hunter Valley pacer Passthehataround (Maddie Bond) and Corbin Lee (Len Simon) another metre away third.

Varga was happy to get the split.

Itsa History Maker came into the 1609 metre race off a last start win at Inverell for owners Ernie and Ursula Mabbott, with Ernie also taking care of the training of the 7yo Julius Caesar-Tarport Girl gelding.

This season Itsa History Maker has had four starts for two wins and clocked 2.01.9 with this win.

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Kootingal reinsman and trainer Craig Clegg enjoyed his Christmas present of both a training and driving double at the Christmas Eve meeting when The Muse and Great Result had impressive wins.

His winning drive behind The Muse in the Follow Tamworth on Sky Racing Competitive Stakes also presented Clegg with The Pub sponsored Drive of the Night.

 “It’s a long time since my last double” said Clegg

The Muse, a 5yo bay mare had her last win back in October at Tamworth and made the most of the four barrier on this occasion.

“She has been drawing the second row for her last five or six starts and we drew the front tonight and took advantage of it” said Clegg.

With Alyeska Dream (Peter Hedges) leading the field and Sissies Beach Girl (David Munise) out in the breeze, The Muse had the luxury of the one by one.

At the final turn Clegg raced three wide and was joined by The Irish Priest with both pacers looking for the win down the home straight but it was The Muse having a half neck win over The Irish Priest (Jamie Bond) and Sissies Beach Girl 8 metres away third.

The Muse also had a handy payout to punters of $14 for the win.

Clegg then wrapped up the second win for the night when Great Result NZ had success in the Seasons Greetings from THRC Pace (1609m).

Commencing from the two barrier Clegg had to be happy to sit in the one by one whilst Melton Marvel (Sam Ison) led the field.

Great Result had a 1.5 metre win over Pinem Back (Dayl March) and Melton Marvel (Peter Hedges) another metre away third.

“There was a bit of drama on the first bend but we got lucky and got around that then lobbed in the one by one and she finished the race off very nice” said Clegg.

Great Result, was having her second start for the season with her last win being back in September 2011 at Addington NZ.

“I brought this mare in NZ and she came over here for a couple of starts. I have put in a lot of work with her to keep her sound” said Clegg “She is by Bettors Delight so I might win a couple more races with her”

 

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It was also a big night for Warwick trainer and reinsman Dayl March who also notched up a winning double with Nod Dor and BG Three as well as securing a present to take home to his wife.

March took out the feature race of the night with the win of BG Three in the Tab Christmas Gift Box Pace (1980m)

“My wife Brooke will enjoy this” said March after accepting the trophy “I will get home about 2.30am so I will place it under the Christmas tree for sure”

After having a win at Redcliff two starts prior to Tamworth BG Three NZ proved that a trip from Warwick in Qld to Tamworth was no trouble when the Mach Three CA – Lady Butler NZ gelding won the TAB Christmas Gift Box Pace with a MR of 2 min neat.

“It was lucky for us we got the money” added March “he has been going good at home, but he has been graded out a bit”

The barrier draw of 10 didn’t deter BG Three after he gained the one by one in behind Bit Noisy (Dean Germon) who was racing in the breeze outside Double Barrell (David Munsie).

Just as the bell sounded March set BG Three alight racing away for a 10.5 metre win over Mister Elegant (Julie Weidemann) and  Soho Eros (Peter Missen) another metre away third.

There may very well be a return trip for March to the forthcoming racing carnival at Tamworth in January.

“We will look at the program and see. I am sure there is plenty to look at”

The win of BG Three was similar to his stablemate Nod Dor in the previous event, the TAB Rewards Merry Xmas Pace.

A run three wide from the tail of the field, two laps out in the event saw Nod Dor NZ eyeball I Want Candy and that is how the complex of the race remained until the finish line with Nod Dor having a 2 metre win over I Want Candy (Peter Hedges) and Major Deed (Cindy Rippon) 5 metres away third.

“That was a very good run. We did get a cheap half so that helped and he kept trying” said March.

“The inside horse (I Want Candy) was not going to give in but I did think it was the horse to beat. I didn’t have plans to drive that way but that’s how it turned out” added March.

“It was a good Christmas present for the owner, Craig (Whiteoak). He will be stoked” added March.

March has no other plans for Nod Dor but to just keep racing.

“We will just try and work him thru his grades” said March with Nod Dor having his last win at Redcliff two starts back.

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A “freshen up” and a perfect barrier draw was all that was needed for Cody Shannon to take out the final for the night at Tamworth, the Racing January 4,14,18 & 23 Pace (1609m), much to the delight of Tamworth trainer Russell Murray.

Sam Ison took the reins for Murray, who took the Dawn Of A New Day USA-Caroline Shannon gelding straight to the lead from the two barrier, dictated terms and clocked 2.01.8 for the 1609 metre journey.

“That was his first up from a spell” said Ison “He is a nice horse to drive and he gets away quick at the start”

Cody Shannon had a 7 metre win over race favourite Pacific Benz (Julie Weidemann) and Choctar Ridge (Anthony Mabbott) another 5.5 metres away third.

The last race of the evening also saw a spectacular light show in the sky with a storm imminent but it turns out it was only Rudolph’s nose shining brightly for Santa to find his way around Tamworth.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year