TONY Missen reclaimed a track record when Rosie O’Rourke led all the way to win yesterday’s $7650 Nevele R Stud North West Oaks (1980m) at Tamworth Showground Paceway.
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The three-year-old daughter of Art Major overcame an early “dipsy doodle” to lead and win the Oaks in a new track record time of 2mins 28.7secs for the three-year-old fillies.
Glenisla had set the new mark at this year’s Golden Guitar Final night of 2mins 29.30secs (MR 2:01.4) but Rosie O’Rourke carved out a new mile rate of 2:00.8.
“Smashed it,” Missen said yesterday.
“I used to have it for 15 years though with Somewhat Fancy before Glenisla knocked us off earlier this year.
“She’s a nice filly.”
Tony’s brother, Peter Missen, drove Rosie O’Rourke and was confident she’d pace well after she had galloped early.
“Once she got to the front I knew she’d be hard to run down,” Peter Missen said.
“I knew she’d keep going to the line.”
He had tried to keep a 3m break between him and race favourite Courage Under Water throughout.
“I kept a length between us but she is very game, went super today.
“She had been unlucky her past couple of starts too.
“She had those Albion Park horses draw inside her.”
As the winner of the NW Oaks she is now automatically qualified for the Newcastle Oaks on May 5 but Tony Missen said he won’t make a decision on that yet.
In the meantime he’s looking at a three-year-old race in Inverell “in 10 days’ time”.
“We’ll look at that first,” he said.
The Tamworth Harness Racing Club conducted an eight-race TAB program yesterday, with the $7650 Select Autoglass North West Derby (2360m) a highlight along with the $5100 Merv Johnston Memorial (1609m).
Dubbo pacer Remember Kaiser, trained by Brett Pay and driven by Madison Reynolds, prevailed in the Derby while the Julie Weidemann-trained Mister Armageddon won the Merv Johnston Memorial(1600m).
Stacey Weidemann drove Mister Armageddon, one of two pacers in the race trained by Julie Weidemann.
She drove Dreamy Nukes into third, the Tony Missen-trained and Peter Missen-driven Miss Presidential splitting the Clifton-trained pair.