Ison trains his first listed race winner

There is no more worthy winner of a harness racing feature race than Tamworth’s Tom Ison who captured the $100,000 TAB Hunter Regional Championships at Newcastle on Friday night (May 19).

The talented horseman has been at the top of his game since he first took his driver’s licence, regarded as one of the best freelance reinsmen in the starts north.

But on Friday night Ison added another string to his bow by training his first listed race winner with Metallica Man (Tintin In America) who was able to lead through out, staving off the fast-finishing Man From Braavos and Jasper Styles.

The four-year-old was purchased six months ago by Brendan Hunt for a family syndicate and has gone to another level under Ison’s Guidance, winning four races for him.

METALLICA MAN REPLAY

“He is a really cool, fast little horse and has the speed to put himself into a race,” Ison explained in a post-race interview with Sky Racing’s Britt Graham.

“Winning this race means a lot to not only me, but the owners and everyone back home that helps out with the team.

“I had to be very careful tonight that I did not push the button too hard off the gate as he can fire up a touch and not settle.

“But after we found the lead and he was doing it well and I always knew we would be hard to run down.

“Luke’s horse did give us a scare late, but I was so pleased when our number come up and it was official.”

The Riverina TAB Regional Championship final, held on Friday afternoon was taken out by the Ellen Bartley-trained and Blake Jones-driven Brooklyn Bridge.

Owned in West Wyalong by Ray Moore, the gelding was sent out as a $1.35 favourite and never appeared in any danger, leading throughout and scorching away to win by a big margin.

This gave Jones ample time to salute the crowd and was a satisfying victory for himself and Bartley.

It was Brooklyn Bridge’s sixth win from nine starts, stamping himself as a star on the rise.

Racing today will take place at Newcastle once again with the club playing host to a solid eight race card.

The first race is the TAB app pace and is set to leave the gates at 1:47pm

For complete race entries, click here.

by Michael Dumesny, for HRNSW