Queenslanders on song in a ‘Gold’ rush

TAMWORTH’S $40,000 Multiquip Golden Guitar is heading for Queensland after five-year-old pacer Surf Ace made a clean sweep of the series with two successive wins.

Surf Ace set a track record in the heat win of 1.55.8 for 1980 metres and in the Final Surf Ace produced a win in a mile rate of 1.57.9

“I won a Tamworth Cup one year with Better Than Max but that was my first drive in a Golden Guitar Final,” grinned Queensland reinsman Brendan Barnes.

“I think I will bow out now on that note. That way I will retain the 100 per cent strike rate”

Barnes was happy to take the reins behind Surf Ace for Queensland trainer Graham Dwyer.

“The horse felt good in the race and there was a lot happening during the race,” said Barnes.

“But he kept travelling along nicely: he didn’t use up too much energy.

“His run in the heat win was super and he was a little bit underdone in the Nugget race but Graham had him cherry-ripe for the final.”

Surf Ace finished second to Hy Voltage in the running of the Pub Group Nugget.

Beginning from the nine barrier in the Golden Guitar Final, Barnes was watching as the race unfold up ahead while he raced four back in the outside running line with Surf Ace.

On barrier rise Tamworth pacer Metallica Man (Tom Ison) went straight to the lead from the four barrier before stepping out of gear on the first turn.

That saw the 10-year-old warhorse and fellow Tamworth pacer Gottashopearly (Blake Hughes) take the lead and dictate terms.

A mid-race move from reinsman Dean Chapple with Promising saw them eventually take the spot outside the leader.

“I was hoping we didn’t have to go too early,” said Barnes.

“And also that we were the ones to make the first move from the back.

“We had to travel a lot wider earlier than we would have liked to.”

Surf Ace, who has become known for  his sprinting ability, reeled in the field in the back straight on the final occasion before travelling four-wide around the final turn.

“I thought we were a bit vulnerable in the home straight,” said Barnes.

“But the horse travelled nicely and he just kept giving – he was very brave.”

Surf Ace took the feature by 1.4m from One for The Rodi (Michael Formosa), who took a trail into the race behind Surf Ace before racing five wide on the final turn.

Bathurst pacer Promising, trained by Bernie Hewitt, finished 3.4m away third.

Race favourite My Ultimate Skeeta (Cameron Hart) from the Jarrod Alchin stables finished fifth.

“I have won a Group 1 race before but these races are never easy to win, so you take them while you can,” said 25-year-old Barnes.

“It is a brilliant carnival at Tamworth: they get a big crowd and they are backed by good trainers.

“The Golden Guitar is on every trainer’s radar as one they want to win.

“Michael (Formosa) congratulated me straight away on the track as the other drivers know how it is a hard track to win on and a hard race as well.

“Full credit must go to Graham (Dwyer) for his training as he had the horse right where he needed to be.”

The night stepped off on the right note for both trainer and driver when Dwyer and Barnes combined to win the $11,000 Multiquip Transport Golden Guitar Consolation with Despondent.

In a driving finish, Despondent had a half head win to spare over Heavenly Sign (Jemma Coney) with Unsulky (Blake Hughes) 3.2m away third in a 1.56.9 mile rate.

For Queensland trainer Graham Dwyer, it was his best effort yet at a Tamworth January racing carnival including training a trifecta when Hy Voltage won the Pub Group Gold Nugget over Surf Ace and Despondent.

That effort followed a win in a heat of the Golden Guitar followed by a win in both the Golden Guitar Consolation and Final.

  – JULIE MAUGHAN

Brendan Barnes (reinsman), Graham Dwyer (trainer) Martine Dwyer and daughter Darcy with their Golden Guitar trophies. Picture courtesy PeterMac Photography