IDLE Hands stormed to his fifth win in six starts when Josh Osborn cut loose on the six-year-old gelding in the final 200m at Tamworth Paceway on Thursday evening.
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The son of Falcon Seelster raced clear with an explosive finish to capture the Hats Off To Country July 7-10 Pace.
But it was hats off to Osborn and trainer Dean Germon who are turning the gelding into an exciting pacing star.
Germon may well look towards Newcastle for more starts with a gelding he trains for his mother, Tina Germon.
Thursday was his 10th victory and capped a big 10-race program for the Tamworth Harness Racing Club, which race again at the Paceway on June 30.
Young driver Brad Elder celebrated a driving treble after saluting with Kenfury Lass, Grinear Girl and Miss Art Ranger.
Daniel Morgan also landed a driving double, with Live Ripple for Paul Collins and then The Muse for Kootingal trainer Craig Clegg.
Live Ripple is prepared by owner-trainer Paul Collins at Sawyers Gully.
“They are starting to build up a good team,” Morgan said after the gelding had held on for the narrow decision.
“We got a little bit further back than I expected so we had to go a little earlier than I wanted,” he said.
Live Ripple had hung on for a nose win over the Lola Weidemann-driven Archiecano.
She had enjoyed success earlier in the day with Irishtown Babe and can see a bright future for filly after her easy win in the Palm AV Pace (1980m).
The Clifton (Queensland) trainer-driver steered the three-year-old bay filly to an 8.25m win from front-runner Western Safari in a race with mishaps at the start and then a major disappointment for Hot Rod Heaven in the home straight.
Two of the field were never in the race after interference at the start.
Then just when Hot Rod Heaven looked like he might race to victory for Anthony Varga and Tamworth trainer Ernie Mabbott he galloped after straightening for home.
The three-year-old had just hit the front when he broke, handing the race to Irishtown Babe, who had tracked him into the race.
It was a relieved Weidemann who told on-course interviewer Mark Lowe she (Irishtown Babe) has a “few little bad habits herself”.
“She’s getting a bit more mature and is starting to put it together,” Weidemann said.
“I think, in time, she’ll end up going good.
“The small field helped today and we got through the problems at the start.”
She was also confident Irishtown Babe would “pick them up” in the end.
“When he (Hot Rod Heaven) broke it made it easier.”
Irishtown Babe now has wins at Narrabri and Redcliffe and Tamworth in a 30-race career also totalling seven placings.
