Four years ago Eglinton trainer Nathan Hurst picked up a third placing in Tamworth’s annual Golden Guitar Final, but come this Thursday night he is aiming to do better.
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Hurst was in the gig in 2014 when Major Gambler ran third to Goldplay, but this year Angela Hedges will take the reins as Tulhurst Santanna lines up in the 1,980 metres Listed event.
A Santanna Blue Chip x Ballroom Belle gelding, Tulhurst Santanna qualified for the $25,500 final via a second placing in his January 21 heat.
“We’ve been going there for a few years and had a couple get in the final, so it’s always good to get another one in there,” Hedges said.
“He drew pretty bad in his heat, but they went hard up front and he got home pretty good.
“He went really good and I was happy with his run, I always thought he was going to be a chance, but when he drew six it made things tough. Lucky the pace was on and he got home good.”
For the final Tulhurst Santanna has drawn barrier eight, but with the emergency in barrier seven, it gives Hedges options.
She can either lead or take a sit and she said the four-year-old can handle either.
“I’ll follow the [barrier] one horse out and hopefully he can lead, at worst I’ll be three fence with him,” Hedges said.
“If the pace is on up front and I can get around them late, I think he’ll be a good chance.
“It’s a half mile track, but he loves the little tracks, he always goes well around Parkes and Dubbo, tracks that are a bit smaller.”
Tulhurst Santanna has remained in Tamworth since qualifying for the final and Hedges reports he has “pulled up really good after his heat”. Not having to travel will help his chances on Thursday night, but the driver knows he faces some stiff competition.
The Roy Roots Junor trained High Rolling has won four of her five starts so far this season and boasts a handy career record of eight wins from 13 starts.
She took out her heat as a $1.80 favourite and given the mare has drawn barrier one for the decider, is likely to be the punters’ pick once more. Certainly Hedges feels the Kenibah-trained hopeful is one to watch.
“High Rolling, she’s the one, I think she will be pretty hard to beat,” she said.
“I’ll look to be sitting on her, I think she ran the fastest in the heats, so she’ll be one of the main dangers for sure.”
Heat winners The Ides Of March from Jarrod Alchin’s team and Clayton Harmey’s Catch The Breeze have also been in impressive form so far this season, the former having lost just once and that was a third placing after he galloped out.
The final is set for 8.33pm, with Tulhurst Santanna looking for his second win from six starts at Tamworth.
