Julie Maughan's Tamworth Raceday Report Thursday 7th April 2016

Old Boys Pace 
“It was an oldie but a goodie” could have quite possibly summed up the day at Tamworth last Thursday when the Club hosted many old trainers and drivers on their old stomping ground.
They may have been arch enemies on the track in years gone by but they certainly showed they valued their friendships- with plenty of tales being told – whilst watching some tough competition happening on the paceway.
A race – the Old Boys Pace – was a specialty with the criteria being the trainer or driver must be over the age of 40 years and the horse must be over the age of seven.
Bingo – in steps Tamworth trainer Ken Natty with his two pacers Jedi Superstar and Leighmont.
“I have to tell the truth - I fit the category” joked Ken Natty after the race. “It’s a pleasure to win this race. There is a lot of “oldies” I know here today and it is a good friendship group”
Friendship was evident with the oldies with plenty of banter, jokes and memories of races and horses gone by but for Ken Natty he can tell the story next year of how he as a trainer entered two pacers in the race and finished one two.
Corbin Lee (Len Simon) headed up the field with Signory Shannon (Chris Shepherdson) out racing in the breeze while Jedi Superstar – driven by Anthony Varga - had the advantage of the one by one.
Stablemate Leighmont with Peter Hedges in the spider sat at the tail of the field before electing to circle his competition and take the lead in the back straight before pulling away from his opposition.
“I was a bit worried when I was locked in down the back and I saw Peter (Hedges) put a bit of a gap in them” said reinsman Anthony Varga who gave chase with Jedi Superstar to come home the eventual winner over his stablemate.
“Both horses went good” added Varga of Jedi Superstar and Leighmont “When I was that close in the straight I knew that I had him”
Jedi Superstar (Elsu-Pumpkin) had a 2.1metre win over Leighmont (Village Jasper-Blue Moon Navajo) and Samuel Thomas (Josh Osborn) 11 metres away third.
“He (Jedi Superstar) went really good last week at Armidale and that run just sharpened him up for this week” said Varga.
“I wasn’t real sure which one would win” added Ken Natty “but Leighmont travelled three wide for the full lap and was able to kick on was a good run”
Another stable runner in Gotta Feeling added to a good day for Natty when the Modern Art gelding finished fourth in the Prydes Easifeed Pace at start 90.
For Jedi Superstar at age eight the gelding was having race start 112 while Leighmont –also aged eight - was having race start 82.
Age shall not weary them!

by Julie Maughan