Julie Maughan's Raceday Report Thu 30th June 2016 - Mitch Chapple

 

MITCH CHAPPLE DELIVERS THE GOODS

How much more can one celebrate at a harness meeting – well for Maitland’s Mitch Chapple that is easy – just keep the party rolling or should we say races.

Chapple dove his first career winning double at Tamworth – in back to back races - and also picked up The Pub sponsored Drive of the Day.

The congenial Hunter Valley reinsman guided Anna Bay Al to an impressive win before hopping straight back in the gig to keep the merriment flowing for a win with Modern Edition.

Chapple commenced his "blue patch" with Anna Bay Al who had a comfortable 21.7 metre win in the Dome Financial Pace.

"It was an awesome win" added Chapple "He (Anna Bay Al) is a pretty nice horse when he is right and Jarred had him pretty much Mickey Mouse"

Anna Bay Al is trained at Narrabri by Jarred Hetherington for owner Dane Thorogood with the win also a great birthday present for Hetherington’s father Wayne "Cowboy" Hetherington who was celebrating his 69th birthday with a day at the paceway.

"Jarred asked me to take the drive and I’m pretty happy that the owners agreed to keep me on" added Mitch Chapple.

"It was the tactics to let him go and pop straight off. He is a much better horse when he relaxes and comes off the speed and he got the perfect trip"

Anna Bay Al commenced from the pole but was crossed shortly after the start with Chapple then placing the horse into the one by one while Samuel Thomas (James Harding) led the field.

At the 600 metre mark Chapple set Anna Bay Al the task and the gelding responded by pulling away from the field to have a 21.7 metre win over Alyeska Dream (Tom Ison) and Bandan (Sam Ison) 1.8 metres away third.

"They told me that as soon as Alyeska Dream comes three wide make sure you go too as she is pretty quick – and she was my main danger"

"He (Anna Bay Al) did start to pull a little so I thought I would let him pull himself into the race" stated Chapple of the Presidential Ball – Take Charge Lady gelding "When I let him down he went like a legend".

"He was full of running at the top of the straight and I think if they come to him he probably would have kicked a few more gears"

"He was a pretty nice horse when he was down in the Hunter" added Chapple

Anna Bay Al covered the 2360 metres in 2.03.1.

Chapple then had cause to be pleased about his back to back wins – not only was it the first occasion to register his first winning double as a reinsman but in gaining The Pub sponsored Drive of the Day behind Modern Edition.

"The horse likes a bit of distance and likes to be driven tough" stated Chapple as he returned to scale after the win of the Modern Art USA-My Poplar Girl gelding in taking out the 88.9FM Tamworth Pace.

"We have only had him a couple of months but he is probably one of the best horses I have driven - we will head back to Newcastle with him now" added Chapple.

Dontbefoolish (Lola Weidemann) led the field but once the pack rounded the final bend Chapple sent Modern Edition to the lead to have a 2.6 metre win over Miss Art Ranger (Mitch Faulkner) and Rollon Baby Belle (Josh Osborn) 1.4 metres away third.

The six year old gelding covered the 2360 metres with a mile rate of 2.00.9 and is trained by Chapple’s father Guy.

The father and son duo have given Modern Edition three starts and produced two wins - Newcastle and Tamworth.

"Mitch found him and we ended up buying the horse- and he won for us first up" added Chapple senior "He will win a few more races" .

Julie Maughan