Julie Maughan's Raceday Report Friday 27 January 2017 - Golden Guitar Final

 

Golden Guitar Final by Julie Maughan

He was a 50/1 shot of winning but Magoogan turned out to be the worthy winner of the $25,000 Prydes Easifeed Golden Guitar Final for 2017 in a race that was action packed.

The win of Magoogan presented Ellalong trainer Michael Formosa his second Golden Guitar Final win – and even though he has trained two winners driving the winner seems to elude him each time.

Xavier won back in 2009 under Formosa’s training with Cameron Davies in the spider as Formosa elected to take the reins behind Staminator who finished fourth on that occasion.

Roll forward to the 2017 running and Formosa once again has two runners engaged – Somemondosomewhere and Magoogan – who both won their heats.

Formosa elected to take the reins behind Somemondosomewhere from the seven barrier while he secured the services of Mark Callaghan to take the reins behind Magoogan from the nine barrier.

"If I could train another winner in that race I would be happy" said Formosa.

"Mark and I have been friends since High School so it was real good to see Mark drive the winner"

Magoogan won the fifth heat of the series after coming from behind and racing out wide down the home straight to snatch the race by a neck over Dawn Magic (Narissa McMullen)

"Both the horses were going good – Somemondosomewhere and Magoogan – their runs in the heats were good runs so they both deserved to be in the final" added Formosa

Magoogan landed four back on the outside running line while Somemondosomewhere raced three back on the marker pegs with Real Social (Nathan Dawson) heading up the field.

"I was confident Magoogan could win if he got the right run" added Formosa.

Two laps from home equal race favourite Rakarazor raced up to join the leader – Real Social -before breaking stride as the field rounded the final bend and interrupting the run of Courtsinsession (Michael Towers) and Somemondosomewhere three wide.

The Duke Downunder (Steven Doherty) also broke stride but Mark Callaghan used his talents and weaved Magoogan through the field.

Mark Callaghan gives his inside view of what it was like on the track whilst driving Magoogan.

"There was a bit of trouble in the race and we had to duck and swerve a few times but we got through luckily and it probably helped him (Magoogan) when we ducked back to the inside on the turn and he dug deep in to hold Michael Towers (Courtsinsession) horse on the line"

"He has had three runs back from a spell and they have all been wins" said Callaghan after the run "He did hang in a bit but he showed how good he is and managed to win the race"

Magoogan held on for a head win over Courtsinsession who was powering home down the home straight and Real Social 3 metres away third with Magoogan paying $47.50 for the win.

Somemondosomewhere finished seventh in the 1980 metre event which was raced in a time of 1.58.7.

A win in the Final saw Magoogan – five year old Santanna Blue Chip-Amber Loofah gelding have his third win on the trot at the Tamworth Paceway.

"He has always been consistent but since he has come back from a spell he is a bit sharper – hopefully he will go through his grades" added Formosa.

And how does Formosa sum up the two wins in the Golden Guitar Finals.

"Xavier was more of a surprise win for me but even though Magoogan was 50-1 I wasn’t surprised as he did well in his heat as he had to overcome some adversity when he was shuffled back but he finished off strong"