150 drives – and at last he’s a winner!

WITH no favourites making it into the winner’s circle at Tamworth on Thursday afternoon, instead it was a favourite son who shone through, in the shape of Tim Varga.

“It only took me 150 drives,” grinned Varga when summing his first success as a reinsman at the meeting, after 22 minor placings.

The popular 39-year-old made his way into the industry four years back and sees harness racing as his hobby.

“I am a late starter – I should have started 15 years ago as I enjoy harness racing – it’s a good sport to be in,” he said.

“I’m too old to play other sports now – I am committed to harness racing.

“It is an outlet for me away from work.”

Varga is part of a family business and great harness supporters in Johns Auto Service, where Tim works beside his brother and fellow reinsman Anthony Varga.

“I can’t make much money out if it but I’m surrounded by a lot of good people,” said Varga.

“I may have to savour the win for another 150 drives now.”

Tim Varga secured that elusive first career winning drive behind Farrahfowler, an eight-year-old Miles McCool mare who was having her 125th race start.

Varga purchased the mare to race himself in February, 2021 and also handles the training.

Tim Varga has had more success as a trainer than a reinsman.

“I have trained about five winners, but I don’t mind putting others on to drive, as they normally get a winner for me,” said Varga.

Farrahfowler went straight to the lead from barrier three in the Multiquip Poultry Pace (1609m) and held off race pressure from Smiling (Dean Chapple) before Jackeroo Shannon took up the racing position outside Farrahfowler.

“Dean Chapple challenged me at the start of the race but I held him out – it was a lot better race condition than last week, when we had to race three wide.

“It was only the last 10 metres that I thought I was going to win when nothing was coming at me.”

Farrahfowler scored a 1.5 metre win over Jackeroo Shannon (Sarah Rushbrook) with Smiling a further 1.4 metres away third.

There was plenty of celebration for Tim Varga both on and off the track.

“Sarah (Rushbrook) said to me that was the “most excited” she has ever been to be beaten,” said Varga.

There was also another first for Varga, who was kitted out with a new gig courtesy of the win of another of his stable runners in Prince Of Payne, who won the Bill Barraclough/Kevin Ward Memorial race at Armidale in May, driven by Tom Ison, with the gig as the trophy.

“I was going to retire from driving but decided to try out the new gig on Thursday and got a win first-up.

“Maybe I will have to think about things differently now.”

With two horses in work at his Burgmann’s Lane property, Tim Varga was pleased to be heading home to wife Amber and young family of son Johnny, aged four and daughter Sunny, aged two, with the news.

“We will probably have a Chinese meal to celebrate,” he said.

“I have to thank Amber as she has allowed me to follow my hobby while she is at home with the two little one.

“I have to thank a lot of people as there have been so many who have helped me along the way and a big thanks to the Paul and Michael Grima family, who are just down the road from me.

“It was good to see that Michael also had a driving double today.

“The Burgmann Lane Crew have struck again.”

Michael Grima picked up his first leg of the winning double with the Len Simon-trained Dark Side ($7.50), followed by his own pacer Freddie’s Delight ($6.50).

Punters who backed Farrahfowler also had cause to celebrate as the return was $71 fixed odds and $87.50 on the tote.

• JULIE MAUGHAN