Strawberry Courage wins at Tamworth 10th Dec 2015 by Julie Maughan

MARK CALLAGHAN DOUBLE AT TAMWORTH BY JULIE MAUGHAN

The BMR Quarries Dash for Cash Final will be staged at this afternoons Tamworth HRC meeting to be raced over the 1230 metre distance.

Strawberry Courage – trained by Mark Callaghan - will most likely commence as race favourite – especially after winning the Prelude last week.

"He (Strawberry Courage) was probably the class horse of the race last week. He drew wide but he went really good and he had a little bit left at the finish" said Callaghan who has his training establishment at Morisett.

Strawberry Courage commenced from the six barrier last week and went straight to the lead before cruising to the line with a mile rate of 1.57.8.

"He exploded off the gate and was able to control things from there and have a nice finish" said Callaghan.

"He didn’t get a lot of pressure mid race so that helped me" added Callaghan.

"He had a little bit left at the finish"

Callaghan was attracted to the Dash for Cash because "it looked like a nice race on paper so we ventured up and got the money"

After a 5 metre win last week over Alyeska Dream (Tom Ison) and Melton Marvel (Danny Mackney) a further 5 metres away third Strawberry Courage will commence from the pole this afternoon but will have to hold the lead with a tidy field of "sprinters" in for their chance at the "cash".

With eight career wins the Courage Under Fire-Twice As Great gelding has gone the sub 2.00 min on three occasions with the best being 1.55.8 at Menangle back in May over 1609m winning a Where Horses Fly Final.

Besides winning the prelude Callaghan enjoyed a training and driving double at the Tamworth meeting with Rave Moonraker taking out the BMR Quarries Pace (1980m) but it was a "nervous run" to the finish line with the Bettors Delight-Moonshine Lily gelding.

"It wasn’t the best run home down the straight" said Callaghan of Rave Moonraker who looked the winner after leading the field before he broke coming out of the final bend and then settling down again into a pace to claim the win.

"He shows a fair bit of ability at home but obviously has to start putting it together on the track" added Callaghan.

Rave Moonraker just held on for a neck win over Kool Kenny (Phil Allan) and Chief Harold (Josh Osborn) 3.2 metres away third to claim his first career win on Australian soil.

It was only the second start in Australia for the Bettors Delight-Mooshine Lilly gelding who had undertaken his previous tasks in New Zealand – and claiming his first winner in Ozzie land.