Sam doing it for more than Just Tommy

TAMWORTH trainer-driver Sam Ison will be on a mission at the Tamworth harness meeting tomorrow [Wednesday] afternoon in looking for back-to-back wins with Just Tommy.

Ison is looking to add to the win by the six-year-old gelding after taking out the Billy Grima Memorial last start at Tamworth.

The feature race on the eight-race card is the race that Ison is chasing – the Sam Ison Memorial Pace – a race named in honour of his late grandfather and namesake, which young Sam speaks fondly of.

“He was a past president of the Tamworth Club and he was a voice for the owners and trainers,” said Sam.

“He had a passion for harness racing and I am sure he would be proud of how we have all come up through the sport.

“Nan (Barbara) still comes to the meetings to watch us race.”

Just Tommy has drawn the seven barrier but will have some “family” opposition from the five barrier which has Shadow Pass, trained by his father Andy and to be driven by his younger brother Tom.

“Tom’s horse can pull if he gets excited so I guess he will be looking for the front,” said Sam.

The Ison family have been trying to win the Sam Ison Memorial since it began in 2017.

“We got beaten a nose in the first running with Bassey,” said Ison.

Sam Ison trained Bassey for Tamworth owners Di and Rod Hazell and is now looking after the racing career of Just Tommy for the couple.

“The win last start was a little unexpected but Rod was happy,” said Ison after Just Tommy paid $71 for the win.

Just Tommy scored by a head win from Overthemoon, trained by Andy Ison and driven by Tom Ison with Montana Nights (Murray Sullivan) six metres away third.

“We have a better barrier draw this start and my horse is a sit-and-sprint horse so I would like to land about three back the pegs, but we will see what happens after the first lap.

“It is a very even field and I think it will be a close finish.

“I would like to be the first one from my family to win the Memorial race but just as happy if Dad and Tom win the race – someone in the family has to be the first.”

The family will also be making the most of the last race on the program with Sam taking the reins behind High Stakes while Tom will take the reins behind Overthemoon – both trained by their father Andy Ison.

“It’s good to have Tom home and occasionally beat him on the track,” grinned Sam Ison.

With both Sam and Tom carrying race silks that have a very heavy “green” effect, maybe the luck of the Irish will be on the side of the Ison family.

• JULIE MAUGHAN