Uralla-trained pacer Onedin Highlander has taken out the $10,000 Pub Group Gold Nugget at Tamworth Paceway.
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A brave race move by trainer and reinsman Mitch Faulkner paid dividends in the Wednesday night race.
“I’m absolutely ecstatic. He went super,” said Faulkner.
“That is my biggest win here on my local track. I have been driving here since I was 16. [I] actually got my licence here on this track, so it is nice to win a feature race here.
“I didn’t expect him to go that good first up after a spell but he has come back pretty good and was tough enough to hold on for the win.
“The Nugget is a really good race and a good incentive. It’s good to get that little bit extra with the trophy of a gold nugget.”
Onedin Highlander had a head win over Queensland pacer Arrokeefe (Narissa McMullen), with Hunter Valley pacer Lurah (Tom Ison) a neck away third. The mile rate was 1min 58.2sec.
Onedin Highlander is raced by his Tamworth owner Henry Campbell.
With a barrier draw of nine, Faulkner watched from the back of the field while Hunter Valley pacers Captain Rockey (Dan Morgan) and Secret Jack (Leigh Sutton) vied for the lead.
“I got into the running line after they backed off a bit up front. They had a lead time of 25 seconds, so I thought I would be able to get around them. He [Onedin Highlander] did that pretty easy within the length of the straight,” said Faulkner.
Faulkner made a three-wide move from the back of the field as the field raced up the home straight on the first occasion, to sit outside race leader Secret Jack.
“It wasn’t our original plan,” said Faulkner, “but coming around the turn they seemed to jam on the brakes a bit and this horse [Onedin Highlander] doesn’t like to sit and sprint, so I thought I would go around them.
“We sat outside them and when the leader was stopping up the back straight, I thought I would get going and try and catch a bit of a break on them. I thought we might try and out run them and it paid off.
“I just thought we would play catch-me-if-you-can tactics and see if they were good enough to run us down.”
Faulkner and Onedin Highlander put a gap on the field around the final turn. The excitement of the patrons on hand cheering home the local also factored into the win.
“It was really good,” said Faulkner of the support. “I think it lifted the horse up a bit as well and having the crowd behind him was really good.
“I was happy with the draw. I had a sneaky suspicion that just on the class of the race I would draw the eight or nine … which wasn’t too bad, as we were able to get into the running line.
“He [Onedin Highlander] showed his toughness and he really likes the Tamworth track.
“There was a lot of nice horses from out of town in the race and there was also a lot of handy drivers. Every driver had to be on their A game, and who was ever on their A game tonight won the race.”
It was Onedin Highlanders fifth win at Tamworth Paceway.
Onedin Highlander was resuming from a spell, and will now head to Menangle for a start as a travelling companion to Reciprocity, who has gained a draw in a Menangle Heat Series final after taking out a heat at Newcastle.
Reciprocity was also a winner at Tamworth on Wednesday night, giving Faulkner a training and driving double for the night.
The meeting at Tamworth is on Sunday evening, with heats of the Prydes Esifeed Golden Guitar contested.