It was a case of brother power at the last harness racing meeting at Tamworth when reinsman Anthony Varga combined with trainer and his elder bro, Tim, to steer Bold and Famous to victory in the Thread Effects Tamworth Pace.

The seven-year-old mare broke through for her first career win at the previous Tamworth meeting, but Anthony missed the drive due to being away and Michael Grima took the reins.

“I was a bit disappointed to miss the drive last win but I knew she would go good and with the favourite scratched … I thought she would go good again,” Anthony said.

“She is an easy going horse but when she is in the front it is a lot different – she is hard to get around.”

“It feels good to drive a winner for Tim – it is a credit to him,” Anthony said.

“He was keen when I started out and we had a couple of horses together but he wanted to give the training a go.”

Driver Courtney Sutherland was in the winner's circle again after Jax Tellar claimed the Johns Auto Service Pace at Tamworth last week. 

MANILLA’S Courtney Sutherland was back in the winners’ circle again with Jax Tellar taking out the Johns Auto Service Pace at the Tamworth meeting.

Sutherland collected her fourth winning drive.

“This is a good way to finish the season,” said Sutherland, who received the drive of the day award for the win. 

“He loved the race tempo. He travelled well on the bit.”

Jax Tellar has had a good season, with 33 race starts and three wins and 12 placings.

THERE were some new kids on the block having success in the industry. 

At the Dubbo meeting on Sunday, Hayden Lew drove his first winner at his debut meeting. 

The son of Peter and Heidi Lew, Hayden is the seventh member of the Lew family to hold a licence with Harness Racing NSW as either a trainer or a driver.

“It’s just like a rush. It’s hard to explain,” Lew said of the win of Nekite River, who is trained by his father, in the NSWSOA & Cobitty Equine Pace. 

“It was unbelievable, especially to drive my first winner in Dad’s race colours. I was happy to get a winner for him on Father’s Day.”

The Newcastle meeting on Saturday saw Joshua Gallagher win behind Our Quinn in his first race drive. 

Gallagher then drove another winner at Menangle on Tuesday, with both horses trained by KerryAnn Turner. 

Both lads are only 16 and are in Year 11.

Harness racing will return to the Tamworth Paceway next Friday afternoon.

By Julie Maughan

Reprinted with permission of The Northern Daily Leader