KARLOO Mick conquered Tamworth Paceway in near track-record time with a regal victory in last night’s $10,000 the Pub Group Gold Nugget (2360m).
The marvellous Dubbo 12-year-old is now off to the Australia Day Cup at Menangle on Saturday week before tackling next month’s Inter Dominion.
“Bring it on,” said confident young driver Robbie Morris of the Inter Dominion.
“It’s a big ask for a 12-year-old but he feels the best he has done for a while. Feels like a three-year-old.”
Last night the Dubbo Destroyer won his 64th race at his 158th start.
He rated 1:59.4 for the 2360m and was just 0.1secs outside Enjays Cam’s track record.
“He’s a great little pony,” said owner/trainer Barry Lew.
“He’s been great to us.”
Karloo Mick earned $6700 plus a gold nugget to go with the $1.47million he has won for Barry and Ronda Lew.
“We’ll go to Menangle and then into the heats of the Inter dominion,” he said.
It was Karloo Mick’s first start at Tamworth Paceway and mainly because of Ronda Lew’s insistence.
She had been the Tamworth Harness Racing Club administrator for a number of years before moving to Dubbo and was delighted to come back and win the Nugget.
“I’ve always wanted to come back and win this race,” Lew said.
“Just had some problems getting Barry to come here,” she laughed.
“But I can’t tell you how proud we are of this horse.
“He’s won a race every year. He didn’t race as a two-year-old but has won races as a three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, 10, 11 and 12 -year-old. That’s got to be something of a record.”
(Earlier in the night Tulhurst Candy won the first race for Eglinton trainer Nathan Hurst while Educated Lady won the $7000 Longyard Hotel Pace Final for Rod Pike.
The five-year-old mare rated 1:59.4 to beat On Command by 4.25m.
“I’ve only had her three weeks,” Rod Pike said.
“Her first start she galloper out for me and gave them a big start and then last week she ran a good second here (at Tamworth).”
He will be back Sunday from his Sawyer’s Gully base in the Hunter Valley.
Guy Chapple also had a surprise success in the third race when he drove Ambler Chloe to a win in The Pub pace (1980m) for Keinbah trainer Shane Tritton.
“After her last run when she was last at Newcastle I didn’t think she’d win,” he said.
“But last time in work she was going well and she did drop in grade tonight. It was a good win in the end because she sat outside them.”
Due Cause then surprised when the Tamworth six-year-old led all the way to win for trainer Ernie Mabbott.