Coming off a last-start win at the Tamworth Harness Racing Club meeting on Wednesday, Manilla pacer Jax Tellar is ready to face his next challenge – a heat of the Prydes Easifeed Golden Guitar on Sunday evening.
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If successful, Jax Tellar will gain a start in the prestigious $25,000 Listed Classic final on Thursday evening at Tamworth Paceway.
It would be a “dream come true” for trainer Chris Sutherland and his daughter Courtney, who will be taking the reins behind Jax Tellar.
“Very excited to be there,” Courtney said.
“Dad has done a terrific job with the horse.”
Courtney has strengthened her driving ability over the past 12 months.
“I won my first race just on 12 months ago,” she said.
“Jax Tellar was my first winner on finals night last year at Tamworth and I have driven him for four wins since then.”
Courtney has six wins all up.
After an impressive win in the AON Risk Solutions Pace (1980m) on Wednesday, Jax Tellar will now contest the Prydes Easifeed Performance Golden Guitar heat three.
Courtney described Jax Tellar’s performance on Wednesday as “super”.
“I didn’t expect him to go that good,” she said.
“It was a tough field but everything went our way.
“He was content in the race and dropped the bit and relaxed for once in his life.
“Coming into the straight I was confident.
“He kept kicking.”
With Queensland pacer My Wingman (Jamie Donovan) leading the field, Courtney found herself three back on the outside running line.
Up the back on the final occasion she elected to take Jax Tellar four wide around the field.
“Coming around the home straight he was doing it all his own way,” she said.
Jax Tellar had a neck win over Comeon Howzat (Tom Ison).
Sir Pickles Yumyum (Anthony Varga) was a metre away in third.
Jax Tellar paid $29.70 for the win.
Courtney is “excited” by the prospect of Jax Tellar competing in the $25,000 Golden Guitar final.
“It is the first time I have been in a Golden Guitar series,” she said.
Jax Tellar has drawn barrier four for Sunday’s race.
The horse won from barrier five on Wednesday.
As such, Courtney believes that barrier four should suit him.
“Darrel Graham’s horse [Shadow Pass] and Adamant Kiss [Cameron Davies] are my biggest fears,” she said.
“This is definitely the biggest amount of pressure.
“But if we don’t make the final and end up in the Consolation, that would be just as big a thrill for me.”
First race at Tamworth Paceway on Sunday night is slated to start at 6.15pm.
There will be six Golden Guitar heats and two heats of the TAB Starmaker 3yo Pace.