THE Tamworth HRC put through another successful nine-race meeting on Thursday afternoon and Keeping Pace has picked up on some outside news.
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Tamworth trainer Peter Rippon travelled to last week's Newcastle meeting to capture a well-deserved win with He's Novak in the John Taylor Memorial driven by Jack Callaghan.
With Derringer (Mitch Chapple) leading the field, He's Novak raced three back on the outside running line before commencing a five-wide run around the field at the 400m mark.
He's Novak came away for a metre win over Catch The Breeze (Leigh Sutton) and Sackheim (Dan Morgan) a further 2m away third and a mile rate of 1.58.2 for 1609m.
ANOTHER well-deserved win out of the Newcastle meeting was that of Warren Grainger finally - yes finally - driving his first winner.
Grainger crossed the line first with his pacer At West Point in taking out the Wests Group Pace at Newcastle last Saturday night.
A salute to the judge was well in order for Grainger as it was his fist winning drive in 30 years, even though he has trained winners.
At West Point has only had eight starts for the Gillieston Heights-based stables, resulting in four placings before the win in a nice mile rate of 1.55.8 for 1609m after an all-the-way win from the three barrier.
Grainger has frequented the Tamworth meetings over the years when he lived in Scone with Cruzin Elmo.
TAMWORTH trainer Richard Williams is making a return trip to TABCORP Park Menangle on Saturday night with Gottashopearly in the $11,000 Cordina Chickens Pace to be driven by Leigh Sutton and has scored a draw out wide from the nine barrier.
Gottashopearly will be having his 80th career start and already has had success at Menangle after a win five starts back at Headquarters in February for a win in 1.53.1(MR) for 1609m.
URALLA trainer Mitch Faulkner has a start in the Club Menangle Where Horses Fly Heat behind Ready To Bloom at Newcastle on Friday night.
Ready To Bloom will come into the Newcastle meeting off a start at the Goulburn meeting last Monday where the gelding finished fourth to Backinthegame (Will Rixon) with the race contested in 1.56.9 for 1710m.
Faulkner has already raced Ready To Bloom at Menangle on May 7 where a third placing was recorded.
SYDNEY-based reinsman Todd McCarthy is trying to get in as many drives as he can before jetting off to Sweden at the end of the month to represent Australia in the World Drivers Championships.
A very proud father, John McCarthy has seen his four sons have success in harness racing after following him into the sport but this is the first time a McCarthy name will be seen representing their country in harness racing.
Plenty of family support will be on the sidelines for Todd McCarthy with John heading over along with son Luke and another son Andy will come across from the US where he lives and competes to watch the youngest of the family compete.
At 26 years of age, Todd McCarthy will be the youngest driver to represent Australia and earned the right to wear the green and gold silks after some standout wins in his career including Grand Circuit races.
McCarthy has been the leading driver in Sydney for the past four years and has his name connected to Inter Dominion winner Tiger Tara and trotter Maori Time who McCarthy drove in the Elitloppet last year.
HARNESS racing will be back to Tamworth for a Sunday afternoon meeting on May 26.