He’s Our Boy has booked himself a berth in a $20,000 Club Menangle Country Series Final - to be staged at Menangle at the end of the month - after a mighty win at the Tamworth Paceway on Friday night.
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“That was a great run – after his win last week I was pleased I retained the drive,” said Maitland reinsman Dan Morgan who handled the reins behind the gelding.
“When the draw came out and he got the seven it was great as I knew all we had to do was follow the one horse through,” he said.
Morgan was right in his judgement as the Danny Evans-trained Somerosesomewhere led the field from the one barrier and set a tidy pace out in the lead.
“They were rolling along and he was just stronger in the end and got there,” he said.
The first quarter was contested in 28.4 seconds; the second in 29.6 seconds, the third in 29.5 seconds and the last in 30.2 seconds.
“We were lucky that we had a bit of cover in on the fence and he (He’s Our Boy) was strong when he came out - it was sit and sprint which suited him,” Morgan said.
“I thought the time on the board was pretty good as well,” he added referring to the mile rate of 1.57.7 for the 1609m – a personal best mile rate for He’s Our Boy.
“He felt really good in the race – I put him to “sleep” early when the pace was on -he did his best work from around the 600 mark - he kicked at the top of the lane.”
Reinsman Dean Chapple, who was heading up the field with Somerosesomewhere encouraged the mare to pick up the race tempo rounding the final turn which allowed He’s Our Boy to switch to the outside running down the home straight.
He’s Our Boy was gaining momentum with each stride and had a half head win over Somerosesomewhere and Western Safari (Lola Weidemann) 3.4m away third.
Heading to Menangle will be a first for both horse and Tamworth trainer Tony Missen but Missen is ready to “give it a go”.
“I have been reserve three times before in these types of races,” Missen said.
“I have never been to Menangle – I have been to Sydney with the gallopers but that was years ago” added Missen “Peter (brother) took Soho Eros to Menangle a couple of times.”
As the trainer, Missen was chuffed to see career win number eight for He’s Our Boy in taking out the $10,000 Wests Diggers/Club Menangle Country Series Heat.
“I thought he had a chance bar any bad luck – he just needed that late split,” he said.
“Danny’s horse (Somerosesomewhere) was the one to beat tonight but the draw is going to be the thing at Menangle.”
Missen went on to train a winning double when Eurasian Muscle succeeded in taking out the Brewfest Craft Beer & Food Festival @ Scully Park November 17 Pace.
The five-year-old gelding - who is raced by Gunnedah harness identities Mick and Debbie Finlay - was having his fifth race start and placing his first career win on the board.
Reinsman Mitch Faulkner knew that Eurasian Muscle would have plenty in reserve in his race.
“After his run last week, he showed me then he was tough and could do a bit of work,” he said.
Eurasian Muscle came into the race off a last start third to Too Good For You from the Weidemann stables at Tamworth.
“He went super last week racing out in the breeze but this week he had to work up around them (field) and he proved he is a tough little horse,” Faulkner said.
Immortal Glory (Dean Chapple) led the field with Eurasian Muscle three back on the inside running line.
“We got him off the fence with a lap to go and he did it easy – he outstayed them,” he said.
He added that he thinks “there is a lot of improvement in him”.
“I like driving him – its seven years since Mick and Deb (Finlay) got a winner so it was good for them,” he said.
The Finlay’s last winner was Frostbitten back in January 2011 at Muswellbrook and driven by now gallops trainer Sally Torrens.
After a “ding dong” battle with Queensland pacer Emargee (Ricky Gordon) down the home straight Eurasian Muscle held a 1.8m win over Emargee and Seventhirtyseven (Sam Ison) a further 3m away third.