Peter Hedges and Aunty Beryl slip past Rhiannon Shannon and Max Hughes to win for Brian Anderson at Tamworth Paceway yesterday. Photo: Geoff O’Neill 251012GOE01
DUBBO apprentice electrician Nathan Carroll won at Tamworth Paceway on debut yesterday.
18-year-old Carroll was having his first drive in a registered race behind Sunofbula in the The Pub Group Pace (1980m) and created something of a family record with the dashing win.
It turns out his uncle, Peter Carroll, also won with his first drive in a race.
That was confirmed by Nathan’s father, Dubbo trainer-driver Michael Carroll.
“I was the seat warmer on both occasions,” Michael Carroll said yesterday.
“I drove the horse in his race before my brother (Peter) won his first race and then did the same with this bloke,” Michael Carroll said of his son and Sunofbula yesterday.
Sunofbula had run seventh at Dubbo at his last start with Michael Carroll in the spider but it all changed for teenaged Nathan yesterday.
“I was a bit worried there for a while.
“I thought I was going to get trapped in there but I managed to get out and got the split.”
Sunofbula dashed down the outside to overtake Lester Shannon, Matai Lad and Red And Black, who had formed a three-horse front rounding the final turn.
Nathan Carroll has always wanted to drive and, after completing his 20 trial drives, made his debut at Tamworth in brilliant fashion.
“I’m very happy with that,” he said.
“I couldn’t ask for anything better.”
Gilleston Heights trainer-driver Peter Hedges drove the first two winners at yesterday’s meeting, harvesting maiden victories with two females.
The first was with race favourite Our Wee Dream, cruising her to a 4.25m victory in the Mac’s Event Hire Pace (1980m).
It was the three-year-old filly’s first win in 10 starts.
Then he linked with Wee Waa trainer Brian Anderson to win the John’s Glass & Glazing Pace (1980m) with four-year-old mare Aunty Beryl.
She was having her 11th start yesterday and notched her first win when she got the better of the Peter Bullock-trained Rhiannon Shannon to win by 5m.
Aunty Beryl had been “knocking on the door”, her Wee Waa trainer said.
“She ran a nice fifth at Menangle the other day,” Anderson said.
“And a couple of seconds here (Tamworth) too.
“She’s been knocking on the door her last three.
“He (Peter Hedges) had her in a good spot too.
“She’s been running well though and is tough.”
Anderson has been training for “15 or 16 years” and hopes she might “be the one”.
“I think she’s going to be a top little mare,” he said of a mare sent to him by good mate, Chris Frisby, from Bathurst.
“He sent her up with a couple of others.
“We put them in the paddock and gave her a go.”