IAN Verning won his first race at Tamworth Paceway for “a long while” when longshot Alyeska Dream won yesterday’s second heat of the Easters Landscape Supplies Pace (1609m).
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The win was in direct contrast to Rawhide Shannon’s victory in the first heat too.
Rawhide Shannon started a long odds on favourite and paid $1.40 for his win while three-year-old filly Alyeska Dream paid $59 on the NSW TAB.
It was her first win in eight starts for Verning, better known as Spud, since he broke her in.
“She was a two-year-old racing against three-year-olds last season,” Verning said after her 4m win.
The daughter of Dream Away raced midfield yesterday before Verning asked her for her effort down the back straight.
Lester Shannon had led with Itaintrocketscience parked on his back.
Sally Torrens also unleashed Itaintrocketscience at the same time and the three rounded the home turn in line.
While Torrens looked like she might overhaul the leader she stalled on her run and Verning and Alyeska Dream rushed past for a 4m win from Lester Shannon.
“The post is still in the same place,” Verning joked.
Dean Chapple also helped him take off her gear and marvelled at the “old bloke” and his long drought.
“His last winner was Franco Whiz,” he said.
“They paid him in pounds,” he joked.
Verning laughed too.
“Yeah it’s been a while but she might win a couple more on that,” he said.
Some had said she had been trialling well but Verning disagreed in part.
“I thought she trialled ordinary the other night,” he said.
“The week before she’d gone all right.”
He’ll hope she runs up to yesterday’s 2min 1secs effort in the $5000 Easters Landscape Supplies Pace Final at Tamworth next Friday.
So too do owner/breeders Brian and Robert Betts.
She became the first winner for the Tamworth father and son.
“Dad’s up in Queensland,” Robert Betts said yesterday.
“He got $70. Bit of a shame he wasn’t here though.
“We bought the mare (My Marsa Girl) in foal a few years ago.
“She (Alyeska Dream) showed promise as a two-year-old too.”
He and his father have “plenty of horses” as well.
“They’re coming out our ears,” the newly-appointed THRC board member said.
“She’s got plenty more wins in her,” Verning said of a filly who was the second horse Brian Betts and son Robert have bred.
