Ison bounces back

Tamworth reinsman Tom Ison rode the crest of a wave last season when the talented 21-year-old was based on the Central Coast, working as stable driver for Roy Roots Jnr.

Ison drove an impressive 152 winners during the 18 months of the extended 2019/20 season, with the majority of those being at Newcastle’s International Paceway.

Despite that overwhelming success, Ison headed home, where he now works alongside his father Andrew with a team of 10 pacers on their Duri property, on the outskirts of Tamworth.

After having a busy afternoon yesterday on his home track, where he drove in each of the nine races, Ison heads to Newcastle tonight, where he is again in for a busy night.

“I have a good book of drives tonight, but I am really looking forward to reuniting with The Black Prince,” said Ison.

“He is a genuine Grand Circuit horse, and I was fortunate enough to enjoy a good deal of success with him, winning six races, including the Vic Frost Cup at Menangle.”

The Black Prince won the Newcastle Mile earlier this year, driven by leading Menangle reinsman Robert Morris on that occasion and has had three runs at Menangle since he resumed from a spell in July.

“He is in a small six-horse field tonight and although he has drawn the widest on the arm no doubt my instructions will be to go forward and give him a solid hit-out,” said Ison.

The six-year-old gelding was not beaten all that far into third place on August 7 and then had a torrid run last start when he was unplaced.

Five of Ison’s nine drives are well in the market, including former New Zealand gelding Surfers Delight, who is at short odds in the opening race.

“I am excited to be driving Surfers Delight for Roy in the first,” said Ison.

“He is a top quality three-year-old that is taking on the older horses and has drawn a bit tricky in barrier nine.

“But his Menangle form is quite solid, so I feel he will be hard to beat.

“I am also driving Sky Diamond for Mark Callaghan in Race 3 and he too should be hard to beat.

“He has been unplaced in four runs since winning but will benefit from a drop in grade.”

HOOFNOTE: Tom Ison drove four winners at Tamworth yesterday. He was also involved in a race fall in the last race and he and his horse Balboa Shannon, along with fellow driver Grace Panella and her drive Skyfall Andy, came out of the incident okay.

To view tonight’s Newcastle fields click here.

By Michael Dumesny for HRNSW