Julie Maughan's Raceday Report Thursday 21st July 2016 - Marathon 2730m

IDLE HANDS WINS TAMWORTH MARATHON

Idle Hands is one fit horse – especially after winning the 2730 metre Psarakis Accounting Marathon at Tamworth and the gelding still had plenty in reserve to break the track record.
Trained by Dean Germon at Tamworth it is the first time the six year old has raced over the Marathon distance and with Josh Osborn in the spider clocked 2.02.6 – breaking the race record set by Leighmont back in 2014 with a mile rate of 2.03.10.
“Once he got in the clear I was pretty confident he was going to round them up” said Osborn.
“That could be the first time I have driven over the Marathon distance here – even at Newcastle I don’t think I have been over the 2500”
“The horse is flying and Dean has got him in good form – he is backing up each fortnight and just keeps turning up and producing”
Last start Idle Hands competed over the 1980 metre distance where he finished fifth to Isobela Maree.
“He is a great little pony – we brought him pretty cheap and he has done a good job for us” said Germon
“We just like to keep him fresh – he has been a good horse so I can’t complain and it is the first time for a track record for me as a trainer”.
Idle Hands was having his seventh win this season.
“It was a real good win and it all panned out beautifully” chirped Osborn “the speed was a cracker”
“With the speed at the start we got a nice run through and finished off -I wasn’t sure how he would run the distance but he pumped it out easy” added Osborn
“He got the right run. As soon as we got off up the back straight and got the one by one pocket we were there”.
“I waited and when we got to the bend I thought it was time to go -he was travelling as if not as good as them but better so I knew it was time to go”
“I haven’t won a race over that distance” added Osborn “I didn’t have to count the laps but each time the horse got to the back straight he wanted to go but I had to let him know “no not this one, got another one to go” - every time he got to the back straight he wanted to pick the bit up”
The start of the Marathon saw speed coming from Playboys Holiday (Cameron Davies) Franco Seville (Graham Moon) Gotta Feeling (Sarah Rushbrook) and Isobela Maree (Maddi Young) all vying for the lead.
Isobela Maree led the field while Osborn was content to sit Idle hands three back on the inside running line.
As the bell sounded veteran Mr Skye Rocket – at start 401 went up to challenge his stablemate – Isobela Maree.
Rounding the final bend Osborn sent Idle Hands three wide to come away for a a 5.9 metre win over a fast finishing Major Deed (Julie Weidemann) and Mister Elegant (Danny Mackney) 1.4 metres away third.
The first quarter was covered in 31.2 sec, second 31.1 sec, third 301.1 and the final quarter in 30.6.
Idle Hands paid $10.70 for the win

 by Julie Maughan