Harness racing returns to Tamworth on Sunday night, with Tamworth trainer Ernie Mabbott and Tamworth reinsman Anthony Varga looking to commence 2020 with the same bang they ended 2019 with.
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Mabbott has six runners engaged at the meeting. Varga will take the reins behind Tiger Courage, who is resuming from a spell, in the Sky Active Racing Pace over 1980m.
Amelia Holmes will then commence from the one barrier in the Millenium Signs Pace over 1980m. Amelia Holmes will be having only her fourth start for the Mabbott stables.
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Varga will then link up with White Wash, who will commence from the eight barrier in the Tamworth Mini Trots Pace and looking for back to back wins.
An outside drive is also on the day's race card for Varga, when he sits behind Radar Hill in the opening event, for Queensland trainer Ricky Gordon.
Mabbott will see stable runner Pockets Full take the eight barrier in the Millenium Signs Pace while Moonbi reinsman Dean Chapple will take the reins behind Carramar Sovereign in the Tamworth Mini Trots Pace, up against stablemate White Wash.
Alex Wicks will then take the reins behind Tralee Chic in The Pub Group Gold Nugget Wednesday 15 January Pace.
White Wash notched his first career win at race start 24 in taking out the Racing Next Sunday 5th January Pace as part of last Sunday's Tamworth meeting.
The win also saw Varga, who guided the Surfing Safari gelding with the reins, take the honour of driving the last winner on the Paceway for 2019.
White Wash went on for a 23-metre win over Shakin Shakira (Stuart Glasby) with Pay Me Smart (Dean Chapple) another 1.4m away in third.
"He has got a good turn of foot this little horse and all we needed was a bit of luck from that barrier draw," said Varga.
White Wash raced in behind the leader - Spruce Loose (Jamie Bond) - in the 1980 metre event after commencing from the seven barrier, before making a three-wide run in the back straight on the final occasion.
"We thought we might have landed the leaders back so can't complain," said Varga
White Wash has had 10 race starts under the tutelage of Mabbott.
"This horse has been going good for Ernie and we were just waiting for that right barrier draw and right run," said Varga.
Mabbott and his son Anthony had two more wins to see out 2019. Tralee Rocks and Hedges Avenue produced wins at the Maitland harness meeting last Friday night as part of the Maitland Inter City Finals night.
"Ernie did a great job with both those horses - Tralee Rocks and Hedges Avenue - and now Clayton (Harmey) has got them and doing an even better job," said Varga.
With Tamworth racing again on Sunday evening (a twilight meeting) Mabbott and Varga will be eager to pick up their first win of 2020 at the meeting.
Mabbott has six runners engaged at the meeting, with Varga to take the reins behind Tiger Courage, who is resuming from a spell, in the Sky Active Racing Pace over 1980m.
Amelia Holmes will then commence from the one barrier in the Millenium Signs Pace over 1980m.
Amelia Holmes will be having only her fourth start for the Mabbott stables.
Varga will then link up with White Wash, who will commence from the eight barrier in the Tamworth Mini Trots Pace and looking for back to back wins.
An outside drive is also on the day's race card for Varga, when he sits behind Radar Hill in the opening event, for Queensland trainer Ricky Gordon.
Mabbott will see stable runner Pockets Full take the eight barrier in the Millenium Signs Pace while Moonbi reinsman Dean Chapple will take the reins behind Carramar Sovereign in the Tamworth Mini Trots Pace, up against stablemate White Wash.
Alex Wicks will then take the reins behind Tralee Chic in The Pub Group Gold Nugget Wednesday 15 January Pace.
