Julie Maughan's Raceday Report, Golden Guitar Heats 2016, 17 January 2016

 

2016 Golden Guitar Heats by Julie Maughan

Seven heats of the $25,000 Prydes Easifeed Golden Guitar were conducted last Sunday and the Final has shaped up as one of the best to be witnessed since the inception of the series back in 1984.

Heat 5 saw Hunter Valley pacer Tiz A Smokey cause an upset when the five year old gelding beat the talk of Queensland - Murano from the Narissa McMullen stables –who was looking for eight wins on the trot - and race favourite Another Broadway from the Darrel Graham stables who was looking for win five from 12 starts this season.

Tiz A Smokey – driven by Mark Callaghan showed plenty of depth in the 1980 metre race.

"They were certainly rolling along up front but full credit to this horse" said Mark Callaghan of Tiz A Smokey

"He had to come out 1200m from home. There was a big gap between us and the leaders and he had to drag the rest of the field up to the runaway leaders. He just kept whacking away"

Another Broadway found the lead not long after the start -commencing from the five barrier - while Murano from the eight barrier was out in the breeze.

Both pacers were level pegging from there on in and there was no stopping with both Graham and McMullen looking for a win – and spectators were waiting to see who would enjoy the win out of the duo.

"They were certainly going hard which had to happen for us to win the race obviously" added Callaghan.

After giving chase to the leaders Callaghan had to take Tiz A Smokey four wide around the final turn into the home straight while the grey Silver Back (Lauren Panella) -who also made a run from the back in the field- opted to take the inside run.

Tiz A Smokey had a 2.3 metre win over Silver Back and Murano was a half neck away third.

Trained by Michael Osborn at Kitchner, Tiz a Smokey (Tiz A Masterpiece-Nora Barnacle) showed plenty of depth and brought the large crowd to their feet when they saw an "outsider" was about the make the perfect ending to the race.

"He felt super in the race" added Callaghan "It has been a top job by Michael Osborn and full credit to the horse he dug deep and managed to get there"

"He (Tiz A Smokey) was three wide at the 1200 to 600 metre mark and four wide from the 400 home"

Mark Callaghan knows what it takes to win a Golden Guitar as he won the feature event back in 2011 with Jasper Gold.

For Tiz A Smokey’s owner Peter Witcom he is chasing his first win in the final – but has enjoyed a placing in the past.

"I ran third one year with Broken Spoke and I also had a third in a Consolation" said Witcom.

(Broken Spoke finished third to Mach Beauty from the Shane Tritton stables in 2013).

Peter Witcom would love to add the Golden Guitar Final to his trophy list but was still stoked with the win of Tiz A Smokey in the heat win.

"It was a good finish and I didn’t think he (Tiz A Smokey) would be in the Final because of the horses in the race"

Stay tuned for the next chapter ……will it be a cliff hanging finish again for Tiz A Smokey.

Heat 2 - Cyclone Kate certainly had the wind in her sails in taking out the second heat of the Prydes Easifeed Golden Guitar.

Trained and driven by John McCarthy the Mach Three-Eyre To The Throne mare also set a new track record in clocking 1.58.0 breaking the 1.58.10 set by Strathlachlan Andy last year for 1980 metres.

It was also the first time that McCarthy has been to Tamworth so his first drive proved to be a winner.

"That’s my first go here. It is a nice track and it is a good series to be in" said McCarthy who made the trip from Cobbity.

"She (Cyclone Kate) is a nice little mare and we haven’t had her that long. She won first up at Bathurst and nearly broke the track record there so hopefully she will go well in the final on Sunday"

John McCarthy may have given Cyclone Kate a start at Bathurst but it is the $25,000 Golden Guitar the mare is being set for.

"It is a nice race and we targeted her for the Golden Guitar. We have held her off until this series and the big draw card is you only lose one class if you win."

"She (Cyclone Kate) went really good as she hasn’t raced since Bathurst Boxing Night so I was real happy. She hadn’t had a trial"

Gee Mae (Lola Weidemann) who was having her first start since April 2015 went straight to the lead from the pole.

McCarthy waited for the field to settle before racing three wide to take the lead and set the race tempo.

As the bell sounded McCarthy took a look over his shoulder and let Cyclone Kate fill the hopples to go on for a 13.2 metre win over Tulhurst Ace (Nathan Hurst) and Blissfulinfidelity (James Harding) 1.4 metres away third.

In setting the new track record Cyclone Kate raced her first quarter in 30.4s, second quarter 30.2s, third quarter 29.5s, and final quarter of 29.5s.

"She will go back home (Cobbity) and return on Friday. She is a cranky little toad so we will take her home to her own environment"

McCarthy is pleased that Cyclone Kate has joined his stable.

"We have only had her for about eight weeks. She is a bit lazy at times but she tries hard and there is a bit more opportunity over here for her".

And upon asking McCarthy of his chances in the final

"It will come down to the barrier draw"

Heat One and Heat Six - Queensland sisters Lola and Julie Weidemann are in with a chance of winning their third Golden Guitar Final tomorrow night (Friday) – and they know they have tough competition.

"It is a hard race to win" said Lola "and to make the final is a big effort. It’s a shame you have to work so hard to make it"

The sisters have won the Golden Guitar Final on two other occasions - Dual Lass in 1995 and Bee Fifty Two in 1995.

Pepperall was the first from the stables to make the Final after taking out Heat One with the mare claiming back to back wins after a win at Tamworth four days prior.

From the pole Pepperall went straight to the lead with Bathurst pacer Smokin Bopper (Nathan Hurst) racing out in the breeze but Pepperall held her ground for the win.

The Blissfull Hall-Pepper Khan mare had a 3 metre win over Saint Stormy (Brad Elder) and Afterburn (Lauren Panella) a half head away third and paid $18.50 for the win.

"She battles on – nothing worries her" said Weidemann after the win "She will dig deep in the final - she always does"

"We are happy that she won a Golden Guitar heat. She is no star but what the hell we are in there now" added Lola.

It will be a great family emotion if Pepperall does win the final as the six year old mare was bred by Julie Weidemann who also looks after the training.

Major Deed – who is also trained by Julie Weidemann - then took out Heat 6 with a 1.6 metre win over Bettabe Perfect (Narissa McMullen) and Sams Cam (Nathan Xuereb) a head away third to give the Weidemanns their second chance in the Final.

Weidemann had to use all her driving skills with Major Deed (Art Major-C C Lobell) who commenced from the seven barrier and raced three back on the outside running line before Weidemann switched to the outside running line as the bell sounded.

It was the move four wide as the field rounded the final bend that gave Major Deed the opportunity to win and gain entry to the Final.

"I thought he was a big hope in the Nugget race last week" said Weidemann "but he didn’t get a run"

"You can go away disappointed or you can go away happy" added Weidemann

Heat 3 and Heat 7 – Luke McCarthy

Heat 3 saw Downunder Stride win for husband and wife combination Luke and Belinda McCarthy.

With Belinda handling the training it was up to Luke to ensure the Bettors Delight-Alta Vista gelding made it to the Final after commencing from the five barrier.

"He got out of the gate good and got the lead. When he got an easy quarter he was going be hard to beat" said McCarthy.

Downunder Stride was having his third win on the trot since coming from NZ.

"He won at Bathurst, then Penrith and now Tamworth so he has got three from three" added McCarthy.

"He is a nice racehorse and got around the track good"

Downunder Stride had a 6.9 metre win over Love This Dragon (Darren Elder) and Goodtime Stride (Lauren Panella) 13 metres away third.

Luke McCarthy is confident of the final and is hoping for a good draw.

"It will all come down to the barrier draws. The front will see the lead either out of him (Downunder Stride) Katy Perry or Cyclone Kate – they will be hard to beat" added McCarthy.

Luke McCarthy then placed Dubbo pacer Zodiac Dream into the Final after taking out Heat 7 with a good front running drive.

Trained at Dubbo by Bill Leslie Zodiac Dream has drawn the pole in the Golden Guitar Final and the Four Starzzz Shark-Zodiac Queen gelding will be looking for his fifth win on the trot.

Heat 4 - Is it Golden Guitar Final number two for Team Tritton?

Friday nights $25,000 Prydes Easifeed Golden Guitar Final is a race trainer Shane Tritton loves and is keen to pick up another win in the Listed race after taking out the 2013 running with Mach Beauty.

"When we won with Mach Beauty we then went onto the Chariots. It all steam rolled for me from there as the owner brought more horses like Suave Stuey Lombo and Arms Of An Angel. We just went onto bigger races" said Tritton.

Tritton has a high opinion of Katy Perry’s racing future as well.

"She is only going to get better" added Tritton "that is her second run back from a spell"

Katy Perry may have only been having her second run back from a spell but it was also back to back wins firstly at Menangle having a mile rate of 1.54.7 for 1609 metres while the win at Tamworth over 1980 metres recorded MR of 1.58.7.

"She (Katy Perry) is still really big but we gave her a good blow out today and hopefully we can return and take home the Golden Guitar" said reinswoman Lauren Panella. "She is a super mare and came in off a last start win at Menangle and enjoyed the good barrier today".

Katy Perry commenced from the three barrier while Red Luck (Darrel Graham) lead the field after commencing from the pole.

Panella raced Katy Perry out in the breeze before slipping away from the field as they rounded the final turn to come away with a 12.2 metre win over Spanish Lustre (Nathan Hurst) and The Brazen Jasper (Lola Weidemann) a head away third.

"I knew there was going to be a bit of a speed battle at the start but I stayed out of it and waited for my turn and ended up with the one by one but I had to get going and she did the rest" added Panella of Katy Perry. "She will be right for the final"

"Shane (Tritton) had the Golden Guitar Final on this mares bucket list so let’s hope we can tick it off" added Panella. "She is a lazy horse but when you say go she really puts in the run"

"She loves a challenge so I am really confident" added Panella.

"Shane loves these sorts of races like the Inter City Pace and the Golden Guitars. It’s a great carnival. I think people love coming out to the country to race".

Team Tritton also have a second runner in the Final – Silver Back - who has drawn the 10 barrier and will have Joe Pace in the spider.