Noveau Shannon and Rod Pike just pip Playboysholiday (Cameron Davies) on the inside to win the opening race at Tamworth yesterday. Photo: Geoff O’Neill 270912GOC01
STACIE Harmey made a triumphant return to training when Rod Pike scooted home behind Noveau Shannon to win yesterday’s Northern Daily Leader Pace (2360m) at Tamworth Paceway for the Limbri trainer.
Pike sat back with four-year-old Noveau Shannon before surging into the race on the final bend, making a line of four with raceleader Cardu (Ian Verning), Motu Sandboy (Josh Osborn) and runner-up Playboysholiday.
Dubbo gelding Playboysholiday, trained by Peter Reynolds, looked like he might win early in the straight but Noveau Shannon worked away strongly to win by a neck and record a second victory in 16 starts.
“We had a good run,” Pike said.
“We sat back and finished strong – that’s about all you could say.”
For Harmey it was a thrilling return to the winner’s circle.
She had trained for a while before “retiring” to have a family.
“We just moved up here,” she said of a move to Limbri.
“I’ve been back training for about three weeks.
“Len Clement worked my horses for me before I got my licence back.”
In her previous training career she trained “about 15 winners” from bases near Tamworth and Cessnock.
She now has five in work at Limbri and is delighted to be able to devote her time to training pacers again.
Harmey is the daughter of the late Allan Harmey and he taught her a lot about horses and training.
“He died of lung cancer,” she said.
“He was only 54. But he always told me he’d love to see me train but I’ve been too busy having kids and a life.”
Stablemates Glenferrie Sunrise and Inthenameofart battled out the finish of the Peter McNamara Photography Pace (2360m) for Glenferrie Sunrise to upset his more fancied rival.
Inthenameofart is trained by Julie Chapple and was the one the stable backed said her husband, Dean Chapple, who trains Glenferrie Sunrise.
“That her first start for me,” Dean Chapple said of the four-year-old mare.
“She trialled a month ago and won then.”
Clayton Harmey gave the daughter of Presidential Ball a gun run to overpower her stablemate for a 2.25m win.
Glenferrie Sunrise rated 2:03.04, considerably quicker than Noveau Shannon’s 2:05.2 in the first race.