It’s another ‘Famous Five’ for Ison

WHILE Tom Ison may have been missing from the Lexus Medal presentation on Thursday at Tabcorp Park Menangle as part of the launch of the Carnival of Miracles, he was certainly stealing the spotlight at Tamworth Paceway where he drove five winners.

Ison who had a great 2019/2020 racing season has returned home to Tamworth for a little ‘R & R’ after previously working for the Roy Roots jnr stables at Central Mangrove, which proved to be a success.

Still, he is happy to make a return – when he has a holiday!

The Tamworth harness meeting on Wednesday saw Ison put on a stellar performance taking the reins in driving five winners from six engagements – equalling his record set at Tamworth in April 2020.

“Happy to be back home – I am having a break,” grinned Ison.

“Last year was an absolutely rewarding year – I will head back at some stage – I just want to relax a bit.”

At 23 Ison wrapped up last season with 677 race drives resulting in 152 wins – including several at Menangle – 200 placings and 65 fourth placings, which helped trainers take home their share of the $918,017 in prizemoney.

The name Tom Ison is now etched in history as finishing second to Cameron Hart in the NSW Concession Drivers Premiership with Hart, who is based in Sydney, having 1094 race drives for 161 winning drives and 293 minor placings and prizemoney totalling $1,442,084.

Ison also finished fourth to Luke McCarthy in the NSW State Drivers Premiership.

The boy from the bush, who began in the local mini trots, has certainly established his name in harness racing.

Ison presented his father, Andy Ison, with a training double when Christian Shannon won the Sky Racing Active Pace followed by Shadow Pass in the Wintech Equine Products Pace.

Tom Ison shares in the ownership of Christian Shannon along with his aunt Gina Ostle with the gelding having his first race start for the family connections.

“He felt good out in front and running that time was even better,” said Ison with Christian Shannon leading all the way over the 1609 metre journey and a mile rate of 1.57.7 after starting as $2 favourite.

“I was confident turning for home and then 50 metres later I thought we are going to get beaten here, but we got to the line,” said Ison.

Christian Shannon held on for a half neck win over Scottlyn Jiggs (Blake Hughes) with Jackeroo Shannon (Sarah Rushbrook) another metre away third.

Stablemate Shadow Pass, starting a short-priced favourite at $1.40, won the Wintech Equine Products Pace.

“He’s has been going enormous,” said Ison with Shadow Pass scoring a 1.8 metre win over Getarattleon (Guy Chapple) with Montana Nights (Jake Hughes) another three metres away third.

It was then a training double for the Richard Williams stables, courtesy of Ison guiding It Aint Royal as $3.20 favourite to a win in the Wests Entertainment Group Pace followed by Amused at $17 in the PeterMac Photography Pace to wins.

“It was a strong win by It Aint Royal,” said Ison.

“I wanted to go forward early and we found the chair – and he was just too strong in the end.”

It Aint Royal scored by a neck from The Hounddog (Dean Chapple) with Lutzys Dream (Courtney Sutherland) four metres away third.

Stablemate Amused then had a 1.2 metre win over A Paradigm Shift (Jake Hughes) and Couldntbetold (Sarah Rushbrook).

Ison also guided the Brendan James-trained Zoemagic to a slick win in the Tamworth Treated Timbers Pace, scoring by a neck win over My Kinda Justus (Blake Hughes) and Roll With Annie (Jake Hughes).

• JULIE MAUGHAN