Queensland pacer Spirito Nero had to make a quick climate adjustment at the Tamworth harness meeting on Sunday afternoon after the weather turned chilly.
Having her first start for the Mitch Faulkner stables, Spirito Nero produced an all the way win from the one barrier to take out the Renew Your Tamworth HRC Membership for 2018-19 Pace.
“The owners sent her down here to me in the hope of winning a few more races,” said trainer and reinsman Faulkner.
There was no time wasted in producing the win for her owners – the Brisbane Pastoral Company managed by Steve Clements – as the three-year-old having held off her opposition close to the line.
Faulkner ensured that Spirito Nero kept Ifoundthebeach (Lola Weidemann), racing on her outside, at bay as well as keeping an eye on Purple Shades who gained an inside run.
“She was probably a little bit short of a run but we thought we would give her a start,” Faulkner said after Spirito Nero held on for a half-head win over Purple Shades (Anthony Varga) and Ifoundthebeach a metre away third.
Somebeach N Clovelly then brought up the second win for the stables in the Vale John Varga Senior Pace.
The win of Somebeach N Clovelly was a “hair-raising drive” for Faulkner as the gelding had broken a front hopple not long after the start which posed a danger each stride the pacer took.
“Lucky he (Somebeach N Clovelly) is pretty clean gaited – I was worried all the way around that he might have caught it (hopple) with the other foot but we were lucky,” Faulkner said.
“I was keeping an eye on it all the way but we got around safe.”
Somebeach N Clovelly made a three-wide run around the field two laps from home to dictate the race terms out in the lead before going on for a 3.7-metre win over Sir Cracker (Maddison Simon) and Sir Pickles Yumyum (Leigh Sutton) a further 6.4 metres away third.
Onedin Highlander then produced a victory in the last – the Garrad’s Horse and Hound Pace – with an 8.3-metre win over Dubbo pacer Sunscreen (Dan Morgan) and Ultimate Dawn (Anthony Varga) a half head away third.
“He was a lot further forward and fitter at this point then what I thought he was,” Faulkner said.
Onedin Highlander raced four back on the outside running line before making a three-wide run around the field to race up and join Franco Seville (Tom Ison) at the top of the field.
“When they backed off and the first quarter was steady he (Onedin Highlander) got a bit keen,” Faulkner added.
“The way he races we have had trouble with him before when we have jammed on the brakes but he did it too easy.”
Faulkner wrapped up the meeting with the three wins and a second with another new stable acquisition Guilty Pleasure finishing second to Bassey (Sam Ison).
“Good for the team to have three wins and a second for the meeting,” Faulkner said.
