Mark Lowe's Race Meeting Report for Thursday 5th June 2014

PUNTERS PARADISE

On a warm winter afternoon at Tamworth last Thursday the punters had a field day with six well backed favourites and one solidly supported second favourite scoring on the 8 race TAB card. Even the other winner was well backed at odds.

Honours for the day went to leading Moonbi trainer/driver Dean Chapple with a double. Former Kiwi 4yo mare Artsu (Elsu-Holly Holmes) made it two wins from two since crossing the Tasman with another impressive but narrow victory in the Shoal Bay Resort & Spa Pace 1980m. After going back from gate 5 the $1.50 "hot-pot" made a surging three wide run to reach the "death" at the 1000m before rolling to the lead at the 700m and skipping well clear. The R1/C0 class pacer held on to win by a neck from fast finishing Oscar Jay, with a huge 26m gap back to Elboron in third. The winner rated 2.01.7 and will now head to Newcastle for a Menangle Series Heat.

Chapple's double came up when 6yo mare Princess Zara P (Elsu-Legendary Value) broke back into the winner's list in the Peter McNamara Photography Pace 1980m. After racing three wide with a trail from the bell, the $1.70 favourite packed too much firepower to score by 1 1/4m in a rate of 2.02.8. The win was Chapple's 43rd of the season and 27th on Tamworth and also gave former champion NZ pacer & now sire Elsu a double as well. Dean Chapple now holds a 16 win lead over Peter Missen in the Harness Racing Travelworld Drivers' Premiership and just a 2 win margin ahead of Tony Missen in the Harness Racing Travelworld Trainers' Premiership.

Promising Tamworth 16yo reinsman Scotty-Jon Welsh, a Yr 11 high school student, made it win number 4 from 28 drives in his short career to date when he led throughout on 3yo Onethingforcertain (Rollon Bigred-Petas Fancy) in the TAB Ladyship Pace 1980m. Driven hard to hold the front from gate 1, the $1.90 favourite kicked clear over the last 400m to record a 24 1/4m victory in rate of 2.01.7. The Dwayne Brown trained filly was having her third run back from a spell and showed a return to her promising 2yo form of last season. Stablemate Blucolla Moon ran on well to give Brown the quinella. It was Welsh's first win for his family stable and judging by the ease of the win there should be many more to come.

The local combination of trainer Ian Mabbott and driver Anthony Varga continued their great run & association on their home track with an all the way win by No Confession ( Ifihadyourluck-All Over Jerry) in the TAB Rewards Pace 1980m. The $1.60 favourite gave punters no concerns at all with an easy 25 1/2m win in a rate of 2.02.1.

Another combination to record success was Uralla father & son, trainer Peter and driver David Munsie with Double Barrel ( Art Major- Sissies Double) in the TAB App. Pace 1980m. The big 5yo mare worked hard three wide early, then enjoyed a sit before again going three wide to out tough her opposition at $3.70 sec. favourite in a rate of 2.02.7. It was her 2nd win with 2 placings from 4 starts since a let-up.

The remaining local win was for yet another local combination. Tamworth brothers, trainer Tony Missen and driver, younger brother Peter took out the HRNSW Prizemoney/Programming Roadshow @ West Diggers 7pm June 17th Ladyship Pace with Blissful atom (Blissful Hall-Delightful Soky). The 4yo, who led throughout from gate 1 at her previous Tamworth run on May 22, showed she can do it from behind as well. After starting from three on the second row, the mare worked home nicely three wide with a trail to outgun her opposition in a rate of 2.02.5 to land some good "wagers" at $10.40 for her stable supporters. For his efforts Peter Missen earned The Pub Drive of the Day Award.

The remaining two favourites to score were Hunter Valley visitors and all the way winners, $1.40 "shortie" Khans Courage (River Khan- Running On Dreams) in the Sky Channel Lordship Pace 1609m for trainer/driver Jason Proctor and $2.00 favourite The Ultimate Legacy (Christian Cullen-Red Pepper) in the Fleabes Cafe 3YO Maiden Pace 1609m for trainer/driver Michael Formosa.

Tamworth race again on Thursday afternoon June 19th and Sunday afternoon June 29.

Mark Lowe