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By Mark Brassel

Old war-horse Akasaki will be out to keep his perfect Tamworth record intact when he steps out at Thursday’s Racing NSW Country Showcase meeting.

Eight-year-old Akasaki is entered for the feature event, the $30,000 Tamworth Country Music Cup Open Showcase Handicap over 1200m.

The evergreen gelding has raced just once at Tamworth, five and a half years ago, for a narrow win in a Class 2 Handicap in August 2016.

Akasaki (Koby Jennings) in full flight scoring at Newcastle. Image by Bradley Photographers

A veteran of 62 starts for 11 wins and 13 placings, Akasaki has had two runs from a let-up finishing fast for a close second to Bel Academy in the Taree Lightning Handicap (1000m).

Akasaki then ran home well for a close-up fifth to Quick Tempo in a 900m sprint at Newcastle.

Victory at Tamworth will edge the sprinter even closer to the magical $500,000 mark in prizemoney.

Scone trainer Stephen Jones prepares the gelding who will be accompanied by Louisiana Iris who is marked down to run in the Sixt Car Rental Tamworth Class 1 Showcase Handicap (1200m).

The mare is a last-start Gilgandra winner (1100m) at her sixth outing.

Tamworth Jockey Club has a big day planned on Thursday despite the scheduled Tamworth Country Music Festival being postponed due to COVID.

“Unfortunately, the Festival has been put back until mid-April which, coincidently, will tie in with the Tamworth Cup on April 22,” explained TJC’s General Manager, Michael Buckley.

“But we will still be offering a great day out for those in the area next Thursday, making the most of the school holidays and those that are sticking to their original Tamworth travel plans.

“Being a Racing NSW Country Showcase meeting, the program carries excellent prizemoney with $250,000 on offer.

“We’ll have live music between races, with a bar and café, as well as kids’ activities and betting facilities. It’s only $10 for entry with gates opening at midday

“The weather is heating up in Tamworth and so is the racing as we head into 2022.

“The track is looking in terrific order and has been the beneficiary of some recent summer rain with more forecast during the next week.

“The course is currently rated a Good 4 with the rail in the true position for Thursday.

“And, of course, we’re looking forward to Sunday 6 March when Tamworth hosts the $150,000 Newhaven Park Hunter & North West Country Championships.”

UPCOMING NSW COUNTRY RACE MEETINGS
Monday: Muswellbrook, Queanbeyan
Tuesday: Wagga
Thursday: Tamworth
Friday: Port Macquarie
Saturday: Parkes, Murwillumbah, Deepwater (non-TAB)
Sunday: Grafton