18 January 2023 | HRNSW MEDIA | MICHAEL DUMESNY
FOR the past two seasons, trainer-driver Nathan Turnbull has dominated the premierships within the immediate area from his Bathurst base.
And just two weeks into the new season, the hardworking mentor has taken up where he left off in 2022.
Turnbull’s stable has become one of the most consistent throughout New South Wales, recording a century of winners in both the training and driving ranks for 2022, and along the way capturing his first Group 1 victory with his stable star, Better Than The Best.
And 2023 is shaping as being even bigger and brighter for Turnbull and his family, who all pitch in to ensure that attention to detail is maintained to keep their team ticking over.
To date, as a trainer, Turnbull has a 33 per cent winning strike rate and on Saturday night that success was highlighted at Temora when he captured a feature race winning double on the Riverina Club’s TAB Carnival Of Cups meeting.
Turnbull took out each of the club’s series finals, the first with Forbes-owned pacer Grinfaron, followed by the much-improved mare Sweet Annie.
Both horses have only been in Turnbull’s care for a short time, and it gave him a great thrill to win feature races for their respective ownership groups.
“It is good to win races for any owners, but the syndicates of these two horses have been very loyal to me and support what I do, without question,” said Turnbull.
“Grinfaron is a really progressive big horse that loves getting out and bullying his opposition on these smaller tracks and was just too good for his rivals on Saturday night.
“While Sweet Annie has really stepped up over the past few months and is as genuine as they come.”
Turnbull is back at Dubbo tonight, a happy hunting ground where he took out the major premierships in 2022.
A regular at all race meetings west of Bathurst, Turnbull places his horses well in suitable races and will take a leading hand again tonight with six starters.
“I have a lot of solid chances engaged at Dubbo tonight,” said Turnbull.
This includes in-form pacer Diletto in Race 4.
The gelding put two wins together last month, including one at Dubbo where he rated a solid 1:59.6 mile rate.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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