Can Mitch Faulkner continue on the winning form?
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After driving a double at last Sunday’s Inverell harness meeting, Faulkner is hoping he can repeat that feat again on Friday night at the Tamworth harness meeting.
The Uralla trainer has three runners from his own stable engaged on Friday night – Somebeach N Clovelly, Monterei Bay and Gottashopearly. He has also retained a drive behind For Me from the Tony Missen stables.
Faulkner drove For Me to a win at Inverell and will partner the gelding again in the North West Contribution to Harness Racing Award 2017 – Vince Brennan Pace.
“I only had the two drives at Inverell so I had a pretty good average for the day,” Faulkner said.
Faulkner was happy with the efforts of For Me.
“He has been in pretty good form – his form is not as bad as it reads,” Faulkner said.
With Quincy Storm leading the field Faulkner parked For Me in behind Starzzzforlouise (Tom Ison) racing out in the breeze.
“I knew as soon as we lobbed in the one by one he would be there about’s at the finish,” Faulkner said.
“Quincy Storm was always going to be the horse to beat in front but Tom (Ison) kept the pressure on throughout the race so it made for a pretty good finish.”
For Me had a 4.7-metre win over Quincy Storm (Paul Grima), with Starzzzforlouise (Tom Ison) another 7.7 metres away third at Inverell and will come up against those two contenders at Tamworth.
Monterei Bay will then be looking for back to back wins for the Faulkner stables after the four-year-old gelding broke thru for his first career win at Inverell in The Inverell Vet Clinic Pace.
“He’s been a bit of a tricky horse and a bit of a headache for us but he did everything right at Inverell,” Faulkner said.
Faulkner may have sent Monterei Bay straight to the lead at Inverell but has drawn barrier six in the Tamworth Volunteer of the Year 2017-David Pike Pace.
“I wasn’t expecting to get to the front that easy at Inverell but he came out pretty good,” the driver said.
Always In The Red finished second to Monterei Bay at Inverell and on Friday night the pair will clash again.
“I thought going into the Inverell race that he was always going to be the one to beat,” Faulkner said of Always In the Red.
“It ran a good race at Tamworth the week before but we were lucky enough to hold it out.”
Monteri Bay is raced by Jeff Dawson and Therese Evans and had a 2.6m win over Always In The Red, with Midloin Blues (Ricky Gordon) another five metres away in third.
“It is real good to see Jeff back in the winner’s circle as it has been a while since he has had a horse and I’m glad the horse could break thru for his first win,” Faulkner said.
Faulkner will then have two runners from his stables pitted against each other in the Tamworth Young Achiever Award 2017 – Rory Brown Pace.
Gottashopearly will commence off the 10 barrier after finishing fourth at Albion Park last Saturday night.
Faulkner has elected to retain that drive, while stablemate Somebeach N Clovelly will have Sydney reinswoman Madi Young in the spider commencing from the two barrier.
