Amanda a dominate force as milestone approaches

For so many rusted-on, diehard New South Wales harness racing followers, Wednesday night has simply been a way of life, kicking back and enjoying quality pacing action at the Bathurst Showground and now the Gold Crown Paceway.

In more recent times they have been able to enjoy watching the rise and rise of homegrown reinswoman Amanda Turnbull, who is regarded as one of the most talented to ever pull on a set of silks.

Turnbull has been a dominant force in New South Wales from when she first drove as a teenager in 2005.

Now, 18 years on, the champion driver is fast approaching 2,400 winners and it is mind boggling to fathom that she has competed in almost 10,000 races.

Turnbull drives one winner in every five drives, which has enabled her to capture multiple premierships and her impressive statistics also include 14 Group 1 winners in the gig.

Punters rarely shy away from wanting to be on whatever she drives in a race and that is will again be the case at tonight’s Bathurst meeting where Turnbull has five drives, all of which are solid in early betting markets.

Her most intriguing drive comes up in Race 3 when she partners former Kiwi pacer Sir Brigadoon (Roll With Joe), whose recent form is not much to go on.

Turnbull took the gelding to Parkes last Friday night for his first Australian start, but he got it all wrong and was beaten a long way in finishing eighth.

Tonight, the five-year-old is back on the bigger Bathurst circuit, where he had produced two solid trials in the lead-up to his Parkes run and Turnbull believes the horse will be a lot better this time around from a better draw in gate two.

“He just got it all wrong at Parkes,” said Turnbull.

“If he brings his manners to the track tonight, based on what he has shown me in his trials, he will be right in it.”

Another of Turnbull’s drives that has drawn to get an economical run is Lexie Girl, who will start from the pole in Race 5.

Trained by her father Steve, the predicted speed map for the race should suit Lexie Girl, as she is expected to be able to hold a forward position from the inside.

Last start she ran home well from midfield to grab third behind Terryrama.

For complete race entries, click here.

by Amanda Rando, for Harness Racing New South Wales