The Armidale Harness Racing Club host their “lead in” meeting this Sunday afternoon with an eight race program followed by the big Carnival of Cups meeting the following Sunday (27th).
For Tamworth trainer Tony Missen he is aiming for back to back wins when Samuel Thomas fronts up in the Top Pub Uralla Pace on Sunday after taking out the Video Ezy Narrabri Cup the previous Sunday.
In what was regarded as a “bloody good drive” by Maitland reinsman Josh Osborn and it certainly paid into the favour of five year old gelding Samuel Thomas to take out the $8,000 Video Ezy Narrabri Cup.
Samuel Thomas is raced by Trevor Buckingham.
“It was a good run” said Osborn when he returned to scale.
“We held the lead and then a bit of pressure came so we handed up and it turned out to be the winning move so we pinched it” added Osborn after the win.
“I was hoping to get the lead and no pressure but it was always a thought that we would have to hand up”
Taking the lead from the number one barrier Samuel Thomas soon encountered Pepperall (Stacie Weidemann) racing on his outside.
As the field turned into the home straight on the first occasion Dubbo pacer Koloura Gold (Bruce McKinnon) also made a challenge for the lead and joined Pepperall out in front.
Osborn then saw himself on the leaders back and was thinking what is “Plan B”
“I knew he was travelling good enough and had to sort of push out but as soon as he (Samuel Thomas) got clear he was going. I think we had the race won at the top of the straight”.
Samuel Thomas made his “split” from the field as they rounded the last turn into the home straight with Osborn extricating the Dawn Of A New Day-Gifted Armbro gelding from behind Pepperall.
“I have driven the horse before and always thought he was better in front but he did get a bit of work today – it was well worth the trip”
“It is only the second time I have been to Narrabri and that would be my first winner here” said Osborn.
Tony Missen, who trains out of Tamworth has had plenty of winners on Narrabri and won the North West Trainers premiership last season and it looks as if he is headed in the same direction this season but was jovial about winning a Narrabri Cup.
“I think I won a Narrabri Cup in the last Century” joked Missen “Swatilight might have won it in the mid 90’s but I’m not sure” added Missen.
“The win is very exciting” said Missen “Josh is one of the leading drivers at Newcastle so he knows what he is doing”
“When Trevor Buckingham brought the horse he said set him for the Golden Guitar at Tamworth but that didn’t work but he is coming good now”
Samuel Thomas had a 1.3 metre win over Idle Hands which is trained by Missen’s son Dean Germon and was driven by Madi Young with Pepperall a neck away third for the Weidemann’s.
With a 2160 metre journey a mile rate of 2.00.6 was recorded.
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