There was some noteworthy winners at last week’s Tamworth harness racing meeting, with the first being for Tim Varga who trained his first winner. Bold and Famous took out the Global Bloodstock Pace.
It was also the first career win for the seven-year-old Famous Forever mare at race start 29.
Tim Varga has taken a little while to follow his father John and younger brother Anthony into the harness racing industry but he has wasted no time in training his first winner.
Varga who works in the family business – Johns Auto Service in Tamworth – engaged his “neighbour” Michael Grima for the drive.
“He’s a local and lives in our neighbourhood,” said Grima. “Tim is very keen and obviously has some ability as his horse has been running well each time he puts it up (starts) – and she looks well.
“Having the advantage of the two barrier in the draw helps so we just rolled along at a nice steady pace.”
Bold and Famous took the lead from the two barrier in the 2360 metre event to come away for a 8.5 metre win over Limousine Livia (Brad Elder) and Magic Ivy (Jess Dart) another 2 metres away third.
“One horse is enough for me,” Tim Varga said trackside after the win.
“Everyone has been good – I take on board all their advice and instructions.”
It won’t be long before Tim Varga can take the reins himself. He is in the process of undergoing his trial drives so he can become a fully-fledged reinsman.
MOONBI trainer and reinsman Dean Chapple may have been on the sidelines for a couple of years but is slowly making his way back into the winners’ circle with Esspe Supreme taking line honours at the Tamworth meeting in the Wardle Osborne Chartered Accountants Pace.
Raced by Tamworth locals Mick McIlroy, Mick Smithers and David Walters, Esspe Supreme also picked up his first career win at race start eight.
“It has been a bit of a struggle but these boys have stuck with me through thick and thin,” Chapple said.
The horse is a bit of a handful but I’m just happy to get the cash.
“We had a couple of plans but the horse wanted to lead so we took the lead.
“I have labelled him the best horse I have had in the stables for a while – next season he will be bigger and better and I am aiming for the Breeders Bonus races in a couple of weeks with him.
“This win is great as the horse has been a challenge – he finished second last start at Newcastle and finally started to show a bit of promise.”
YOUNG Hazells Farm & Fertilizer worker Scotty-Jon Welsh has finally returned to the winners’ circle after an enforced absence of nearly two years after he broke his arm in a fall at Tamworth which placed him on the sidelines.
After a few operations and plenty of hard work, Welsh had his first winning drive since his return behind Commanche in the Stockman’s Supplies Tamworth Pace.
‘It’s been almost two years now,” said Welsh after the win.
“The horses’ run last start wasn’t real good and we worked out he can’t lead – has to get in behind a horse.”
That’s what Welsh did – after coming out of the one barrier he let Hunter Valley pacer Stevie Dee take the lead with Commanche finding a split on the final turn to come away down the home straight for the win.
“He has got a little 200 metre sprint which we also found out about the horse,” Welsh said.
Commanche was having his first race start for the Dwayne Brown stables and came into the race as a first emergency courtesy of a scratching.
PLENTY of local trainers are heading to the Newcastle meeting tomorrow night so we wish them well with harness racing returning to the Tamworth Paceway next Thursday – August 31 – which will wrap up the 2016-17 racing season.
By Julie Maughan