THERE was plenty to talk about after last week’s Tamworth harness meeting, in particular the win of Eurasian Muscle. Not only was it a tough win, but the gelding also handed his owners Mick and Debbie Finlay of Gunnedah their first win as owners since January 2011.
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Trained at Tamworth by Tony Missen, the grey Eurasian Muscle was also breaking through for his first career win at race start five in taking out the Brewfest Craft Beer & Food Festival at Scully Park. The win handed Missen a training double after He’s Our Boy won the West Diggers /Club Menangle Country Series Heat. The horse will now have a start in the $20,000 final at Menangle at the end of the month.
Uralla reinsman Mitch Faulkner handled the reins behind Eurasian Muscle for Mick and Debbie. Their last winner, also a grey, came from their pacer Frostbitten. That win came about at the Muswellbrook track with now successful gallops trainer Sally Torrens handling the reins on that occasion.
Frostbitten had 15 wins and 19 placings in his career and it looks as if Eurasian Muscle may follow the same successful journey.
THE Tamworth HRC premierships table for the new season is already congested, with Maitland reinsman Brad Elder driving three winners at last week’s meeting. Elder piloted the Richard Williams-trained Gottashopearly to a win in the Smokey’s Bar & Grill at Diggers Pace. The win was on the cards with Gottashopearly finishing second in his last two runs at Albion Park.
The Greg Coney-trained Keyang Sponge Bob broke through for a win in the The Courts at Easts Pace at his fourth start for the stables. Elder then guided Luikin to a win in the Banjo Restaurant at Wests Leagues Claiming Pace with the gelding trained by his sister Melanie.
After taking out last season’s Drivers Premiership with 32 wins, Elder is currently sitting on four wins after two meetings, while fellow Maitland reinsman Dan Morgan is sitting on three wins after driving a double at last week’s meeting behind He’s Our Boy and Never Know Charlie for his father Paul Morgan.
NEXT Wednesday night, September 25, the Tamworth HRC will host a night meeting before moving their next four meetings to Armidale.
The reason for the move is to establish a clear passage for construction work to commence at Paceway Tamworth on improvements, with a new roof to be established over the current race day stalls and a new official’s pod which will house the photo finish, judges’ box and stewards all in one.
While this work is being undertaken, harness racing will be transferred to Armidale with all Tamworth meetings to carry the title as Tamworth at Armidale.
There will be four Thursday meetings at Armidale on October 4, with that meeting hosting two Menangle Heats, October 18, November 8 and November 15 and then back to Tamworth for a refreshing look on November 22.
MEETINGS to keep an eye on this weekend are Newcastle tonight while the little township of Eugowra is preparing for its yearly increase in population as their ever-growing Canola Cup meting draws near. Heats will be conducted this Sunday and the big Group 3; $30,000 Lexus of Parramatta Canola Cup Final will be staged on Monday October 1. This year running is for Australian-bred horses only.
