Believe In Heaven has increased his lead in both the Peter & Diane McNamara 067 Local Horse of the Year and the KTR Standardbred Horse of the Year gongs at Tamworth after an impressive win in taking out the Wests Entertainment Group Pace at last Sunday's Tamworth harness meeting.
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Currently sitting on 28 points, Believe In Heaven has had 16 starts for the 2019/2020 race season with the result of six wins and three placings.
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Trained by Tony Missen, it was his wife and part-owner of Believe In Heaven, Joy, who made the request for Tamworth driver Scotty-Jon Welsh to handle the six-year-old Rock N Roll Heaven-My Exotic Lover gelding in the 1980 metres event.
"He is a good little horse - I drove him in trackwork the other day and I was very excited for the opportunity to drive him in the race," said Welsh after the win.
With Missen having three runners in the race, first stable runner Mickie Ramone led the field with Blake Hughes in the gig, while stablemate Are You With Me (Jake Hughes) raced out in the breeze.
While Mickie Ramone "slipped away" from the field heading into the back straight on the final occasion, it gave a split in the field for Welsh to make his race move.
"It was a good break for me to get out and get going at the 400[m] and just keep Loanshark (Tom Ison) three wide around the turn, which helped me get home a little better than him," said Welsh.
Believe In Heaven had a half-head win over Loanshark and Casino Comedy (Madi Young) was 12 metres away in third place.
"It was a very close finish," said Welsh. "Tom [Ison] had me down the straight but the little horse fought back which was good to see. It's good to be back in the winner's circle as a driver. I have been training a few winners."
Missen, who headed to the meeting with five runners, is enjoying the fact that he is gaining momentum in the Horse of the Year after taking out the premiership on two occasions prior - in 2013 and 2014 with Soho Eros.
Armidale trainer John Enks was another trainer who enjoyed the winners circle at Tamworth, with his two new acquisitions out of Bathurst, in Groovy Shannon and Neville Shannon, having wins first up for the stables.
Neville Shannon was the first to shine in the Jackson Quality Meats Armidale Pace, with a four-metre win. Maitland reinsman Brad Elder was in the gig.
"The win was pretty surprising - it was only the second win for the horse in 31 starts so he probably wasn't expected to win," stated Elde. Neville Shannon paid $8.50 for the win.
"It is the first time I have driven the horse so one from one is a good start," added Elder.
