The running of the Pryde’s Easifeed Three Golden Guitar Heat 6 was full of race action and a surprise winner to boot in Jogalong Stingray who has now made it into the $25,000 Final in Tamworth on Friday night.
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Jogalong Stingray ($27.60) was in the ‘right spot at the right time’ with the Julie Weidemann-trained gelding now looking for a favourable barrier draw in the Final - with fields to be released on Tuesday.
Race favourite Takara Truffle - with Guy Chapple in the spider - was the first to cause a concern to punters when the three-year-old galloped out of the barrier before settling at the tail of the field.
With the last heat and last opportunity to gain entry to the rich final, the race saw Pimpama trained Cashdontbounce (Steve Doherty) take the lead with Uralla pacer Somebeach N Clovelly racing out in the breeze.
Georges Plains pacer Art Mistress (Bernie Hewitt) then made a run three-wide around the field to take up the lead.
At the bell, Takara Truffle then made her pitch for a spot in the final with a run three sprint around the field to race up outside Art Mistress.
All the while, reinswoman Lola Weidemann was “swinging” to Jogalong Stingray and waiting for a chance opening on the inside running.
“I thought it would never come,” Weidemann said of the opportunity to land the knockout blow.
As the field rounded the final turn into the home straight Art Mistress swung wide and ‘wiped out’ Cashdontbounce (Steve Doherty), who was making an outside run to gain a position in the final.
“It was like the hare and the tortoise,” Weidemann joked after the race.
“The hare departed and the tortoise carried on.”
Jogalong Stingray is raced by Weidemann’s niece Stacey Weidemann.
“Stacey will be happy – she will probably drive him in the final,” she said.
Jogalong Stingray obviously has an enthusiasm for the Tamworth track – he has already claimed seven wins on the 750m paceway, compared to just one other win elsewhere (Armidale).
Classed as an outsider in the betting stakes Jogalong Stingray paid big odds for the win and ensured some healthy multiples with a mile rate of 2.00.8 for 1980m trip.
Could the Clifton-based Weidemann stables be staring down the chords of another triumph in the Golden Guitar Final?
The Weidemann stables have taken a Golden Guitar Final on two other occasions with Mister Skye Rocket in 2010 driven by Lola Weidemann and previously Duel Lass in 1995 with now Gunnedah-based gallops trainer Sally Torrens in the sulky.
Jogalong Stingray had a 1.8m win over Art Mistress ($11.60) and the $32 shot Somebeach N Clovelly (Mitch Faulkner) 8.9m away in third.
The disappointment was Takara Truffle, sent out as $1.10 chance on the strength of her career record of six wins from eight starts, but laboured late on to finish in fifth position, beaten 14.5m.