Dwyer leads a Queensland invasion

QUEENSLAND trainer Graham Dwyer has been making the trip from his North Maclean-based stables to contest the Tamworth Harness Racing Club January Racing carnival for the past four years.

And 2022 will be no different as Dwyer returns with a sizeable team.

Tuesday night will see the opening meeting of the Tamworth carnival and Dwyer has eight runners at the meeting, with four of those contesting the $10,000 Pub Group Gold Nugget.

The other four will line up in The Pub -Gunnedah Road Pace.

“I come down for the racing but we’ve always enjoyed the concerts through the day as well,” said Dwyer.

“It is the first year that we can all come as a family and now the music side of things has gone [the Country Music carnival has been postponed due to COVID].

“It used to give me something to do when I finished the horses through the day and we’d go and watch the shows.”

For the first year Dwyer will be accompanied by his wife Martine, and a rising star in the harness world, their son Layne Dwyer, who is currently making his mark in the mini trotting world.

“I am trying to bring as many horses as I can – we are bringing a truckload plus a horse float as some of the horses will be aimed at the Golden Guitar and there are some other nice races on the program as well,” said Dwyer.

Despite the music festival being postponed, Dwyer is happy to see the racing go ahead.

“I am happy that the racing side has stood up as the Carnival at Tamworth always has some good racing,” he said.

Dwyer finished second in the Gold Nugget in January, 2020 with Ifoundthebeach, beaten just 1.9m by the Mark Callaghan-trained and driven Royal Gamble.

“I would love to win that gold nugget after finishing second one year,” said Dwyer with the attraction to the race being the trophy – a gold nugget sitting close to $2,000 in value.

“Every horse in the race has got a good chance of winning,” said Dwyer.

“But it would be nice to head back home with some gold of some form.”

With four runners in the Pub Group Gold Nugget, Dwyer had to rely on the guidance of his new staff member and former north-west trainer-driver Sarah Rushbrook.

“Sarah guided me as to getting some drivers,” said Dwyer, who has elected to take the reins behind Valencia, nicely drawn in barrier one.

Narrabri reinsman Chris Shepherdson will take the reins behind Gottahaveahobbie from the five barrier, while The Hervey Bay will come from barrier eight with Maitland reinsman Mitch Chapple accepting the drive.

Moonbi reinswoman Elly Chapple has taken the opportunity to appear in the feature race with Dywer’s fourth runner Little Change, drawn in barrier seven.

• JULIE MAUGHAN