The Tony Missen-trained Shadow Boxing was on a mission in the opening event at Tamworth Paceway on Wednesday night - and nothing was going to stop the five-year-old gelding.
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Raced by Tamworth owners Greg and Judy McDonell, along with Bob Peterson, the five-year-old gelding produced his fourth career win at race start 33.
"My intentions were clear from the get go - we weren't sitting up," said Sydney-based reinsman Leigh Sutton. "The short trip really suits him."
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"All credit to the horse as I just let him run and he did his job, put them away down the back and was brave enough to hold on.
"Misso [Tony Missen] found the race for him and I just drove the horse, pointing him in the right direction - so my job was easy."
After racing out in the breeze from the five barrier, Sutton let Shadow Boxing take the lead over Jodi's Choice (Jake Hughes), just as the bell sounded - before accomplishing a three-metre win over Apollon (Dean Chapple). For Me (Tom Ison), also from the Missen stables, was another 2.3m away in third place. The mile rate was 1.57.6 for 1609m.
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QUINCY Storm produced a nice win in taking out the Hygain Tracktorque Ladyship Pace at Tamworth on Wednesday night. She paid $23 for the win.
Commencing from the four barrier, the horse's part-owner and reinsman, Paul Grima, who races the six-year-old mare with his brother Michael [he handles the training side of the operation], went straight to the lead to set the race tempo before producing an all-the-way win.
"We got to the front but we had to work hard," said Paul after the 1609m race.
"She is not a strong horse and generally we have to drive for luck every week."
Quincy Storm's last win prior to Wednesday occurred at Narrabri back in April 2018.
"I was worried at the finish but she stuck on - she hasn't raced in many mile races," Paul said. "We took advantage of the barrier draw and it took a bit to get the lead.
"But once we got there, she relaxed and got away with an easy second quarter and found the line good enough to win."
In a close finish, Quincy Storm held on for a half-head win over a fast-finishing Ice Pick Angie (Guy Chapple) - with She's Heavenly (Dean Chapple) two metres away in third place.
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THE JC Caffyn Indigenous Drivers Series saw the final two heats contested at Tamworth on Wednesday, with the last opportunity for drivers to gain entry to the final at Menangle at the end of the month.
A countback will now have to be undertaken to see who will gain that final spot, after Sydney reinsman Jack Wade won the last two heats - which also provided a training double for Cessnock trainer Clayton Harmey.
Wade produced a win in the first heat behind Platinum Revolution. "I would like to drive a double tonight," he said following the race.
Platinum Revolution certainly struck a chord with Wade, with the all-the-way win.
"One of the nicest horses that I have sat behind, I would have to say. She didn't even get out of second gear," he said.
Platinum Revolution had a 17.5m win over Miss Catalina (Danny Gibson), with Hazelnuts (Danny Scanlan) a neck away in third place.
Wade then partnered with the second of Harmey's team, Corbaux. And after racing three back on the inside running line, while An Alliance (Danny Scanlan) led the field, Wade weaved Corbaux clear of the field on the final turn and raced three wide and win heat two.
He beat Point Oh Five (David Caffyn) by half a neck, with An Alliance two metres away in third place.
"I had to do some pushing and shoving to get the horse out but I got her out," Wade said.
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THE other local winners on the night were the Jarred Hetherington-trained Splash of Gold (Blake Hughes), Shez Got Bling (Brad Elder), for the Greg Coney stables, Fantasy Money (Brendan James), who broke through for the mare's first career win at race start 45.
