28 seconds of relishing Group 1 glory

Bathurst harness racing horseman Nathan Turnbull made sure he relished the final quarter of tonight’s (Nov. 12) NSW Breeders Challenge Blue Final at Menangle.

Driving his beloved Shoobees Place colt Better Be The Best, the pair kicked clear of their rivals to win the $100,000 feature by 23 metres giving Turnbull his first Group 1 win as a trainer and driver.

“I was enjoying it non stop for that last 28 seconds, I was on top of the world,” Turnbull said post race.

“To put them away as he did was amazing.”

After messing up the start in the Group 1 Breeders Challenge final at the same venue a fortnight ago and producing a Herculean effort to finish runner up, Better Be The Best was just that tonight, going straight to the top from barrier eight.

The two-year-old rolled through the quarters in 26.3, 30.1, 28.3 and 27.6 seconds, seeing Better Be The Best lower his personal best mile rate to 1:52.3.

“It’s unbelievable,” said Turnbull.

“I’m just so relieved.

“This horse really deserved that after what he did in two weeks ago.

“What a season we’ve had.

“I broke through 100 (driving) winners for the season through the week and I’m sitting on 90 training wins and it’s just been an amazing ride.

“I do it all with my family and I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

To top off the success, Turnbull trained the quinella in tonight’s feature with Mister Quirk, driven by sister Amanda Turnbull, finishing second.

Better Be The Best pushed his record to seven wins and one placing in 10 starts with earnings of $126,495 and Turnbull has been the only person to drive the two-year-old throughout his career.

“Literally no one else has driven him except for Jett (Turnbull’s son) who sat behind him when he was tied up to the rails one day and said ‘Dad I might drive him today’ and I said you might not,” said Turnbull.

BETTER BE THE BEST REPLAY

For complete race results, click here.

by Amanda Rando, for Harnesslink