Black Mach toughs it out an epic Winter Rewards win

It was a good night to be a Thornley at Addington last night.

On North of the Waitaki Winter Rewards night, Sam Thornley and Black Mach combined to produce the harness racing performance of the night in the Stevie Golding For Your Real Estate Needs Mobile Pace, and half brother Craig Thornley upset the favourites with a late charge to win the Tyre General Mobile with Amaretto Franco.

Black Mach’s win – his third victory in his last four starts for trainer Ken Barron – was about as tough as it gets.

Drawn wide, the two favourites Black Mach and Commander Ben went back initially. Black Mach then made his move and was posted three wide, with Thornley getting urgent with him at the 800m. He looked no hope, only to move into the parked position before leading as they headed for home.

In what was the grittiest of displays he then thwarted the challenges of Commander Ben and What A Minx to win by a nose.

“That was some sort of performance,” called commentator Matt Cross as the six-year-old recorded his seventh win in 34 starts.

It also gave Thornley his 36th win for the season. He now trails Carter Dalgety by just two wins in the junior drivers’ premiership, with Wilson House third on 29. Dalgety is currently driving winners on a six week working holiday in North America, while House has spent the last week or so based at Chantal Turpin and Pete McMullen’s stables in Queensland.

BLACK MACH REPLAY

Earlier in the night Craig Thornley produced a top drive on Amaretto Franco.

Favourite Justcallmemiki worked hard to get to the front from an awkward draw, leaving second favourite It’s Tough parked. As they turned for home It’s Tough surged to the lead and looked home before Amaretto Franco, who had been three back the running line, sprinted past them all to win by half a length.

“I didn’t think I’d beat a couple of them but she got a good trip and capitalised on it,” Thornley told Harness Unhinged’s Nigel Armstrong post race.

Paying $16.80 it was Amaretto Franco’s third in in 11 starts for trainer Steven McRae.

The Winter Rewards winners, other than Black Mach, were One El in Race 4, the IRT.Your Horse.Our Passion Winter Rewards Handicap Trot, Sargent Best in Race 5, the Stevie Golding Thanks Racing Clients Winter Rewards Mobile Pace, Sonoma Tyron in Race 8, the Book King Of The North for $100K Bonus Handicap Trot and Lord Mudrick in Race 10, the IRT. Your Horse. Our Passion Winter Rewards Mobile Pace.

For complete race results, click here

by Dave Di Somma, for Harness News Desk