Uralla trainer Mitch Faulkner has never won a Golden Horseshoe – a race for three year old pacers – but this Sunday he has a “double claim” in the feature event at the Armidale Paceway.
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Monterei Bay has drawn barrier three while stablemate Ryabby has drawn the five in the $10,000 DUCATS Earthmoving Armidale Golden Horseshoe Pace..
After a good showing in the Smith, Sharpe & Abbott Chartered Accountants Pace at Armidale last week, where the two pacers made it a quinella and Faulkner received a little bit of a “surprise” right on the finish line - he is hoping for the same result again.
Heading into last week’s 1980m event, Faulkner felt that Monterei Bay was the stronger of the two from his stables and elected to take the drive while Queensland reinsman Ricky Gordon handled Ryabby.
“My intention was to try and lead but Sam Ison (Bassey) was happy to hold the front so I thought I would just sit outside and wait to see where we went from there,” Faulkner said.
Bassey led the field out of the barrier while Monterei Bay raced out in the breeze and Ryabby was placed three back on the outside running line.
Making the final turn into the home straight Bassey along with Monterei Bay and Ryabby out three wide all continued to race together down the home straight with Ryabby gaining the upper hand over the concluding strides.
“My other horse (Ryabby) actually surprised me when he came up behind and I heard Ricky (Gordon) yelling. I thought I better get going here,” he said.
“I was surprised as we were using this race as a trial for the Golden Horseshoe.
“I was happy they both went to the line together – I just picked the wrong horse to drive that’s all.”
Ryabby had a 1.9m win over Monterei Bay and Bassey another 2.5m away third with a mile rate of 2.01.9 clocked.
“I was really happy with the run of Monterei Bay after sitting in the death over 1980 and still kicking on at the end,” Faulkner uttered.
“He felt strong in the race and I thought on the home turn I was home that’s until I heard another horse coming - It was a good hard battle to the line.”
If there is one race Faulkner would like to have the trophy sitting on the mantelpiece for it is the Golden Horseshoes for three year-olds.
“I would be ecstatic if I won it – it has been back for three years now and I didn’t have one in last year but the year before I did,” he said.
The race has attracted nine runners, including Dalacos Empress, who drew the pole for trainer Lola Weidemann.
Clintal Do, fresh from winning four of his past five starts, is on the inside of the second-line.
The race is on at 2.08pm on Sunday.
