Latest News

By Geoff Newling

Race 1: Wrongfully Wrong got it ever so right at Tamworth today. The Stephen Gleeson-trained three-year-old gelding led all the way to annex a $30,000 TAB.com.au Maiden Showcase Handicap (1000m) in impressive fashion. The Muswellbrook son of Dubleo had drawn barrier 16 but jockey Leanne Henry crossed quickly to share the lead and then make it a one-act affair when they cruised away from their opposition for a three and three quarter length win from Michelle Fleming’s Akeelah with Paul Perry’s Keeva a long head third and Stephen Gleeson’s other runner, Kaera Jaani fourth.

“He’s a real nice horse going forward,” Leanne Henry said after unsaddling. She said he’s been a consistent horse with two good seconds at Muswellbrook leading into today’s success. Stephen Gleeson said Wrongfully Wrong is a “family horse”. “My brother Jason bred him and Jim (Stephen’s father) broke him in,” Stephen Gleeson said. “He’s a family horse. Always shown a bit. He was very green in his first prep, always had ability just getting him to put it all together. He’s been gelded too and was really focused today. When he got across from that wide gate it looked all over and he kept going.” Stephen Gleeson also said where Wrongfully Wrong’s next start will be was “a good question”. “I’ve never had anything more than today’s race in mind but a Highway Handicap in Sydney wouldn’t be out of place for him if he keeps improving. “He took the steps to improve today after two good placings and that was a good strong showcase race today. I hope he can keep improving ... he’s a nice style of horse.”

RACE 2: Revere knuckled down to run down race favourite Mystic Splendour and win today’s $30,000 Furneys Family Fun Day Sunday, July 29 3YO Maiden Showcase Handicap (1200m). The Stephen Jones-trained gelding son of Your Song handed his Armidale syndicate a pleasing result running over the top of the Mark Mason-trained Mystic Splendour with Mel O’Gorman’s Autumn Ridge third. Stephen Jones trains Revere for an Armidale syndicate including Troy Johnson, Armidale Jockey Club secretary-manager Jim Dedes and St Kilda Hotel publican Harley Payne. While Dedes was crook with the flu and at home watching, Payne and Johnson made the trip down and were pleasantly surprised by the “blowing” price they obtained. Stable foreman Darren Egan, filling in for Scone trainer Stephen Jones, who has Akasaki in at Rosehill Gardens tomorrow, said Revere was impressive. “He was real good today,” Darren Egan said. “He trialled well so we were pretty confident.” Jones has had the gelding for the past five months or so, tipping him out after runs at Tamworth and Kempsey back in January. The time off did him good, Egan said. “He bulked up well,” he said. “We’re happy with the way he’s progressed and taken big steps from the trial.” Egan said the best part of the win was the way “he knuckled down and hit the line. Really hit the line well.” As for Akasaki he said the gelding is in “good order” for tomorrow’s Rosehill race. “He’ll be hitting the line too,” he said.

RACE 3: Cut The Mustard made it two wins in succession at Tamworth when the striking daughter of Arlington won today’s $30,000 JT Fossey Benchmark 65 Showcase Handicap (2100m). The Melanie O’Gorman-trained mare travelled tremendously well for jockey Rachael Murray and kicked clear in the straight to register a three and a quarter length win from Husonique (Lesley Jeffriess). Robert Knight’s Whakatane, who had led, held on for third. Lesley Jeffriess said Husonique was still heading to Grafton for next Thursday’s Grafton Cup Prelude after his gallant run to beat all bar Cut The Mustard. “He still ran well,” Lesley Jeffriess said. “We’ll still go to Grafton for the Prelude with him and see how he goes there.” Melanie O’Gorman said the Grafton Cup Prelude might be too soon for her four-year-old mare, who was backing up to win at her home track today after winning there 10 days previously. “It might be too quick after running today after 10 days,” Melanie O’Gorman said. “I was just worried about getting through today but maybe we can chase a few smaller country cups with her. There might be something over there for her later.” O’Gorman said the daughter of Arlington “pulled up really well after her last start”. “The 10 day back up is a bit tricky but we didn’t have a lot to do with her.” She will look at the calendar and see if there are any suitable races for her in Grafton over the five-day July racing carnival. Rachael Murray was delighted to ride the mare again for O’Gorman and owners Terry Burke and John Smyth. “I was really happy with the way the race panned out,” Rachael Murray said. "The horse is flying.”

RACE 4: Ratler produced a rattler of a rails run to win today’s $30,000 Rapid Clean Maiden Showcase Plate (1400m). The Melissa Dennett-trained three-year-old gelding jumped last, raced fierce but then finished powerfully to post a two and three quarter length win from Tracey Bartley’s Al Pheroz with race favourite James Richard (Tim McIntosh) three-quarters of a length third. Matt McGuren wasn’t enthused after Ratler left the boxes last. “He did a lot of things wrong today,” Matt McGuren said. “He let down really well though.” Melissa Dennett didn’t want to look after the poor start. “He jumped extremely awkwardly and raced erratically. He’s still got a lot to learn. Just so new to everything.” A three-year-old son of Bullet Train the gelding was having his third start. “He’s just so green, a real anxiety attack,” she said. “On the track he’s a real nice ride though, just needs a friend to walk out with though.” She said she hopes to “get him up to a mile”.

RACE 5: 

View the full results with race replays for Tamworth here