When Tamworth reinsman Tom Ison elected to leave his family back in May to join the Roy Roots Jnr stables at Keinbah, he wasn’t too sure how long he would be away.
The tip is he is settled into the Hunter Valley stables and is kicking plenty of goals.
Last Saturday night at the Newcastle meeting, Ison was slotted in for four drives in the first four races and came up trumps in taking out the first three races.
“It is the first time that I have driven three winners in a row at a meeting but about the fourth time I have driven a treble,” Ison said.
The first to open the winning account for Ison and Roy Roots Jnr was Miss Streisand in the opening event.
“She is an exceptional little filly,” Ison said of Miss Streisand who landed in the one-by-one from the two barrier before hitting the lead as the bell sounded.
“That was our plan - let them settle and roll to the front and keep her happy.”
Miss Streisand recorded a mile rate of 1.54.7 for 1609m.
“She was very quick,” added Ison, “just outside the track record. It would have been nice if she set a new track record but we are not out there to break records.”
Ison then came out in Race 2 - the Osborn Law Commercial Pace with an all-the-way win behind Glengarry Rose.
“We haven’t led before with the mare and we thought if she could lead, she would do it easy - we normally sit her up.”
Glengarry Rose also went sub two minutes in clocking 1.55.8 for 1609m.
“That is the first time she has run over the mile - she normally goes over the longer distance,” Ison said. “She held them out and did it easy.”
The Black Prince then rounded out Race 3.
“He is a nice horse and enjoys doing it (racing) and he looks good doing it.
“At the 1000m we hooked him out and he did it easy. I have driven him for two wins and a second now.”
The Black Prince clocked a mile rate of 1.55.4 for 1609m.
Race 4 was the downfall when Amightyfine horse finished third.
“We almost got it too,” Ison said, “wasn’t beaten that far.”
“One of my best nights yet. It was just like going through the motions as they are all good horses.”
FORMER northern pacer Reciprocity has had a win first up from a spell for local owner Henry Campbell. Reciprocity is now with the Peter Manning stables in Victoria and notched a mile rate of 1.59.9 for 2180m and paying $14.80 for the win.
Reciprocity had a 1.4m win over race favourite and stablemate Queen Shenandoah (Kerryn Manning).
THE harness racing bug has bitten once again for Stuart Glasby who has made the official return to the paceway after an 11-year hiatus. Glasby has been back for two meetings now and enjoying the renewed energy for the sport.
Another to make a comeback in the training ranks is Neil Kleindienst who looks like he has pulled a nice team together with three-year-old filly Storm Blaster finishing fourth to Dennington Heights on her debut run at Tamworth.
Greg Coney made the decision near on a year ago to make the move from his Nowra base to Tamworth and recently drove his first winner on the Tamworth Paceway with Colonel Joy.
With stepdaughter Madi Young encouraging from the sidelines, Coney also drove his first winner “since we don’t know when”. It would be safe to say at least five years and it’s good to see the plan coming together for the stables.
THE third round of heats for Inter Dom 2018 will be contested at Cranbourne on Saturday night with Group 1 NSW pacer Tiger Tara leading the way for our state from the Kevin Pizzuto stables. The Inter Dominion Final will be staged on Saturday, December 15.
The next harness meeting at Tamworth will be on Tuesday, December 18.
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