Growling Gorilla and Joshua Osborn (blue, brown and white colours) win the first at Tamworth yesterday. Photo: Barry Smith 300812BSE01
GROWLING Gorilla is growling a bit louder now after breaking through for his maiden win at Tamworth yesterday.
The Joshua Osborn-trained-and-driven gelding was having only his second race start and took out the opening race on the seven-race program, the Toohey’s Extra Dry Pace (1980m).
He held off Rawhide Shannon (Darren Elder), flashing down the outside for a 1 1/2m win.
“He doesn’t go too bad,” Osborn said.
“His first-up run wasn’t too bad.”
That was at Newcastle over a month ago, with the three-year old finishing third.
“He’s still learning. He’s got a lot to learn,” Osborn said.
Yesterday Itaintrocketscience (Sally Torrens) got out the best and led Fantail (Rodney Atkins) and Growling Gorilla around the first lap.
Coming out of the straight, Osborn took Growling Gorilla to the outside of Fantail and pretty much stayed there until they hit the straight for the last time.
Osborn said he didn’t really have a specific race plan.
“I was going to go back but they came out slow and I ended up on the outside of the leader,” he said.
He said Rawhide Shannon finishing on so strongly probably helped his horse.
“He only goes if there’s a horse going with him,” he said.
When Rawhide Shannon came up alongside him he found another gear.
They were 5m clear of the rest of the field but there wasn’t much in it for third.
Fantail just got there from Itaintrocketscience.
Osborn had a double by the second race with Bayside Resort getting up in the Barnes St Boarding Kennels Pace (1980m).
He drove him for Tamworth trainer Anthony Missen and finished 2.5m in front of Playboysholiday (Cameron Davies).
It was also his maiden win.