Julie Maughan's Raceday Report Friday 23rd January 2015

Matthew Harding will treasure his return trip to Tamworth for a while to come after taking out the $25,000 Prydes Easifeed Golden Guitar Final with Strathlachlan Andy.
Growing up around Tamworth before the family moved to Bobs Farm near Anna Bay, Harding had many a trials drive on the Paceway before gaining his licence.
“It’s good to win a race anywhere but to come back here (Tamworth), to win the biggest race of the year for the Club, it is a big thrill” said Harding.
Matthew Harding, who races the Blissfull Hall-Strathlachlan Gem gelding, leaves the training to his father Geoff, who himself has had a winning drive in a Golden Guitar Final back in January 2007 when he piloted Lets Ride The Tide to victory.
“I have driven a winner of the Golden Guitar before but this is probably just a bit better” said Geoff Harding “I told Matthew to go out and show me how it is done” added the proud father with a smile on his face.
“It’s the pinnacle” added Geoff Harding at the post race presentation “it is a family affair”
It may have been a pinnacle moment for the family but the enthusiastic crowd on hand also enjoyed witnessing another track record being broken with the win of Strathlachlan Andy, when he clocked 1.58.1 for 1980 metres, breaking the track record set by last year’s winner Goldplay (1.58.3).
“He (Strathlachlan Andy) really did well during the week and just got a bit better. The Golden Guitar sort of just came into the plan and we thought we would have a look and see how we go” said Geoff Harding.
Strathlachlan Andy finished second in the first heat to Happyever Laughter and came into the final with a tough barrier draw of 11.
Matthew Harding played a cool hand at the tail of the field before sending Strathlachlan Andy three wide just before the bell sounded, and swept past the field, with an awesome sprint in the back straight to come away for a 4 metre win over Bathurst pacer Marquez (Ashlee Siejka) and Tangles (Nathan Hurst) 10.5 metres away third.
“We thought he was the best horse in the race and the 25 lead time was good” said Matthew Harding. “He ran well in his heat the other day and when they burned hard early tonight I knew he would be over the top of them ” added Matthew.
Strathlachlan Andy has been a handy horse for 24 year old Matthew Harding with the 5 yo gelding having 33 starts for 12 wins and 13 placings and has now won over $77,000.
A hit out in the Maitland Inter City Pace before contesting the Golden Guitar heat and final series at Tamworth saw Strathlachlan Andy win his heat at Maitland and finish sixth in the Group 3 final to All Eyes On Us.
Race favourite Goldplay (Bart Cockburn) who was looking to be the first to make it back to back titles
after the win in 2014 finished seventh.
The father and son duo will now map out where they will head next with Strathlachlan Andy.

TRITTON AND PANELLA TREBLE
Keinbah trainer Shane Tritton and reinswoman Lauren Panella enjoyed their run of success at the
Tamworth Carnival when they trained and drove three winners on the final night of the Carnival.
Modern Chic was the first to open the account for the stables when the Modern Art-Bridget Franco
mare won the Wardle Osborne Chartered Accounts Pace.
Backing up from a fourth in the first heat of the Golden Guitar to Happyever Laughter, Modern Chic
had no problems from the six barrier in the 1980 metre event.
Pass It To Billy (Sarah Rushbrook) led the field while Modern Chic had the tough run out in the breeze
before leading the field into the home straight on the final occasion.
Stevie Wander (Grace Grant) was finishing fast but Modern Chic held on for a half head win over Stevie
Wander and Artsu (Anthony Varga) 13.7 metres away third.
Mile Rate for the 1980metres was 1.59.8
‘She (Modern Chic) had to do it tough tonight” said Panella “she got caught in the backwash at the
start but I knew I had a good horse”
Panella then picked up her next win when Yayas Hotspot annihilated his opposition with a 42 metre
win in the $12,000 Garrards Horse and Hound Tamworth City Cup.
Commencing from the three barrier Panella had the 4yo leading the field not long after the barriers
pulled away, dictated terms out in front and had an all the way win.
Yaya’s Hot Spot covered his last half in 56 sec with the Jeremes Jet-Star Of Heaven 4yo clocking 1.57.2
for 2360 metres, smashing the track record set by Enjays Cam (1.59.3) back in 2010.
“He (Yayas Hot Spot) is a good horse and has run some good races against the likes of Bling It On” said
Tritton “He has had some massive races and we expected to have a win today”
“We knew the Cup would be a nice race for him. He probably needed that run as he has got some big
races ahead of him. He loves the smaller tracks, but we will head for the Chariots now and then
probably come back and do a bit of a Carnival run” said Tritton. “He is only a 4yo and similar to Mach
Beauty and on the way up”
Whilst Tritton may have been full of praise for Yayas Hot Spot, Lauren Panella who handled the gelding
in the race was just as impressed and announced there was more yet to come from the horse.
“This horse can do some freakish things” said Panella “He has rolled off a 26 quarter before and I
wasn’t surprised with his victory tonight, he deserved it. He has been running in big races before and
gets pipped on the post so he deserved it”.
Even though Yayas Hot Spot had a 42 metre win Lauren Panella said he was not at maximum speed.
“He wasn’t going at his maximum speed. I had to fight him all the way and I didn’t even pop out of second gear at the 400 metres and he still had the ear plugs in. He just got a tap on the rump to keep his mind on the job but he is a super horse and it is a credit to him “said Panella.
Yaya’s Hot Spot has had 28 race starts for 12 wins and 8 placings and had the win over Soho Eros (Peter Missen) and Katesaroyal (Brendan Barnes) third.

Glenisla NZ (Lauren Panella) then had her moment of glory in taking out the $15,000 Nevele R Stud Star Maker Three Year Old Final, a follow on from winning the heat conducted last Sunday.
“We brought her up here to Tamworth and she has done a great job” said Tritton
Make Mine Grange (Josh Willick) led the field as the bell sounded whilst Glenisla raced out in the breeze with Glenisla holding on for a short half head win over a fast finishing Soynwasabi (Matt Neilson) and Make Mine Grange 1.2 metres away third.
“She is going to be a tough filly when she learns what to do” said Panella “I wasn’t quite sure if I had won with the close finish but I wouldn’t have been disappointed in her as she drew the barrier from the back line in her last two starts and she’s had to do it tough but I’m really proud of her”
Glenisla commenced from the nine barrier in the 1980 metre event and was having win number four from 14 starts and four placing’s.
“The track is in great condition and it has been a great night” said Panella.
Glenisla had a mile rate of 2.02.0 for 1980 metres.
Tritton was happy with the three wins for the night and was full of praise for the Tamworth Carnival.
“We love supporting these sorts of races especially this Club (Tamworth) as they probably started me off on a good thing a couple of years ago and its good to be back. We will keep coming while ever we can” said Tritton who was referring back to the win of Mach Beauty in the Golden Guitar Final of 2013.

Mitrhys Magic collected his second win at Tamworth in five days when he took the Prydes Easiprep Concentrate Pace (1609m) by 1.9 metres over race favourite Burning Ambition (Josh Willick) and Underdog (Peter Missen) 2.7 metres away third.
“It was a great run” said Varga “I was worried about Burning Ambition when he got to the lead that easy but the best horse finished the race off” said Varga
Burning Ambition was looking for the third win on the trot.

A catch drive for Dubbo reinsman Nathan Carroll made for a good night in the opening event at Tamworth the Tamworth 2015 Country Music Festival Pace (1609m) when he drove the John Glover trained Tayspastime to a win in the 1609 metre event.
“I only got the call 45 minutes before the race” said Carroll “John (Glover) fell off the back of a truck a couple of weeks ago and wasn’t feeling the best so I got the drive” said Carroll. “and I was more than happy to get a win for him”
John Glover drove Tayspastime at his last start at Tamworth back on January 18 where she finished third to Mitrhys Magic in a tight finish.
“She has improved every day we have been up here” said Glover who was enjoying the Country Music Festival “It was another good win”
Tayspastime had a 5.1 metre win after sitting outside race leader Empyrean (Dan Russell) and Mister Armageddon (Lola Weidemann) a half neck away third.
The 10 yo America’s Pastime-Tayorama mare was having her 108th race start and for her fourth career win repaid punters $12.30 for the win.

Bathurst reinswoman Angela Hedges enjoyed a catch drive behind Rockstar Ruler in the Parry Logistics Pace.
Peter Shepherdson who trains Rockstar Ruler usually engages his nephew Christopher to take the reins behind the Art Major-Bunker Buster 6yo horse, but he was detained at hospital awaiting on the arrival of his first child, a son Cohen.
With 15 minutes to go before race time Stewards informed Shepherdson he would have to name a replacement driver and in steps Bathurst reinswoman Angela Hedges.
“Just glad she was there to take the reins as we were a bit desperate for a while looking for a driver” said Shepherdson “Angela was joking when she made the offer to drive for me and I said “let’s go girl” and it turned out to be a good thing”
Angela Hedges was all smiles when she returned Rockstar Ruler back to scale after the running of the Parry Logistics Pace (1980m).
“I had 15 minutes’ notice” said Hedges “He (Rockstar Ruler) is a tough horse and I use to race against him at Bathurst so the win didn’t surprise me” said Hedges.
“All Peter told me was go to the front and win”
Rockstar Ruler enjoyed his fourth win from 11 start since coming to the Shepherdson stables at Narrabri as well as two placing’s and paid $11 for the win.
“For someone who has never driven the horse, and only had 15 minutes to prepare it was a good drive” said Shepherdson.
Rockstar Ruler had a 2.8 metre win over Major Deed (Cindy Rippon) and Franco Seville (Graham Moon) 5.2 metres away third and clocked 2.00.8.

For Marsden Park reinsman Nathan Xuereb it was his first time on the Tamworth Paceway, and had a winner straight up.
“This is the first time I have driven in a race at Tamworth” said Xuereb after he drove Red River Franco to a win in the Hazells Farm & Fertiliser Services Competitive Stakes (1980 metres).
The win also produced a winner for Nathans father, Michael who trains the 5yo Saab gelding at Marsden Park.
“The horse only came up for the trip” said Xuereb who also had Sams Cam engaged in the Nevele R Stud Star Maker Three Year Old Final, where he finished sixth to Glenisla.
Red River Franco was notching up the first win from 14 career starts.

El Kay Grand made it back into the winners circle after a 1.1 metre win over Angus G (Matt Neilson) and Tulhurst Harry (Nathan Hurst) 1.1 metres away third when the Bettors Delight-Kayceem Grand in the TAB Rewards Pace.
“I thought we were driving for second” said reinsman Bart Cockburn who took the reins for Maitland trainer Guy Chapple “but she found another gear”
“That is the first time I have had a drive for Guy (Chappel)” said Cockburn.