Alchin goes one-two with a Golden Guitar

IT’S HARD enough to win any feature race in this country, let alone quinella it!

Yet Aqua Sancta has won the $40,000 Multiquip Golden Guitar Final beating stablemate Delightful Dude in a tidy mile rate of 1.58.2 for the 1980m.

The Golden Guitar Final formed part of the Tamworth Harness Racing Club’s Carnival of Cups meeting on Friday night.

Sydney based trainer Jarrod Alchin provided the quinella and shared the spoils of first and second with owners Scott Whitton and his partner Jodie Foster, who head up Tumby Park.

“It was a very tactical race but I think the best horses in the race finished first and second,” said Whitton after the race.

“That was just brilliant.

“It was a terrific feeling to win, something we have wanted to do for a long time.”

Overthemoon, trained by Andy Ison and driven by his son Tom had the locals in a favourable position at barrier rise taking the lead from the three barrier and setting the race tempo.

It was only over the concluding stages of the race that Overthemoon surrendered before finishing 9.1 metres away third.

Scott Whitton endured a “nervous wait” on the sidelines while watching the race unfold.

“I was nervous when the horses were going into the first corner but once things settled down a bit and by mid-race, I was pretty pleased with how the race was panning out,” he said.

“I reckon we have had the favourite in the race for the past four years and we have run second a few times but we’ve never been able to win the race, so it was very very pleasing.”

Scott Whitton’s a former Armidale resident so he was claiming it as a ‘local’ victory.

“I would call that a hometown win,” said Whitton.

“We won two Group 1 races last year and that win in the Golden Guitar was just as good if not equal to winning tonight.”

With Sydney reinsman Cameron Hart guiding the two pacers -Aqua Sancta and Delightful Dude – to wins in their respective heats, a call was placed to fellow Sydney reinsman Will Rixon to make the trip to Tamworth to help the Alchin stables out.

Hart elected to stay with Delightful Dude while Rixon took the drive behind Aqua Sancta.

“I knew it was a tough decision for Cam (Hart) as both horses won their heats so well, I was just happy to be in the race, it is a race that I have always wanted to win,” said Rixon who is the grandson of one of harness racing’s legends in the late A D Turnbull.

“I was last early in the race.

“Boyzhavtime (Robbie Morris) got caught three wide so I jumped onto his back and got a bit of a trail into the race.

“That worked out well as I got in front of my main danger (Delightful Dude) and he couldn’t get past me, so that worked out well.”

Rounding the final turn into the home straight Rixon found himself three wide with Aqua Sancta while Hart was beginning a four wide run with Delightful Dude.

“I did a bit of yelling and was hoping my horse would hang on as he was moving along nicely,” said Rixon.

“I knew I had the favourite (Delightful Dude) following me and I didn’t want to get too excited but when my horse held on to the line – it was a good feeling.”

For reinsman Cameron Hart his wish to win a Golden Guitar will have to wait another year, but was still happy to finish second.

“Tumby Park is a big supporter of mine and if I couldn’t win the race, I was happy to see their other horse succeed,” he said

“Obviously I was doing my best to beat him (Aqua Sancta).

“I followed Aqua Sancta who just had a bit more “zip” on my horse but my fellow chased hard down the home straight and only just missed.”

And trainer Jarrod Alchin had to watch from behind after taking the reins behind his third runner, Justa Little Bit, for wife Stephanie.

“I thought they were the best horses in the race and they finished first and second,” said Alchin.

“We love coming here to Tamworth and will try and find something to bring back next year.

“I think it was great for Scott (Whitton) as this race means everything to him, so it was good that he has won it.”

  – JULIE MAUGHAN

HAPPY SNAPS: Delighted connections after Friday night’s Golden Guitar win.