Turnbull the major player

Harness racing’s New South Wales Breeders Challenge Regional series continues at Bathurst tonight (Nov. 23) with three heats for three-year-old pacers.

And it is Bathurst’s own Amanda Turnbull that appears to have the leading hand in each of tonight’s heats as she will drive the favourites in all three races.

Turnbull’s standout winning chance comes up in the fillies’ heat with Pas De Cheval (A Rocknroll Dance), which is trained by her father Steve.

She has had a stellar season, contesting several feature races throughout the state including last month’s final of the New South Wales Breeders Challenge and despite being unplaced was not beaten far.

Turnbull also combines with Steve in the first heat of the colts and geldings’ division, driving Allstarzzz Frankie (Four Starzzz Shark) and will then be aboard Iam The Captain (Captaintreacherous) in heat two, a horse that she trains herself.

Allstarzzz Frankie has won three of his past five outings and after drawing perfectly in gate three tonight, the gelding will take a ton of beating.

Iam The Captain has a much tougher task on his plate after drawing wide in barrier eight.

But the classy colt is dropping back from racing in the Group 1 final last start at Menangle and was an impressive Bathurst winner three starts back.

“I have three really good drives in the heats tonight,” said Amanda.

“Pas De Cheval was not far away in the Group 1 last time out, beaten by some nice fillies and should she find the front, will be hard to beat.

“Iam The Captain has been a really nice horse for me from day one, winning five races.

“He will find things a little tough from gate eight.

“We will play it by ear and hopefully, he will have too much class for his rivals.”

It will be a busy night for Turnbull as she has five drives on the nine-race program.

The whole Turnbull clan are looking forward to a busy time travelling throughout the district with the three major clubs of Bathurst, Parkes and Dubbo hosting TAB Carnival of Cups feature meetings in December.

Turnbull makes no secret of targeting the best races at those tracks, her main focus being on winning the Shirley Turnbull Memorial at Bathurst, the Red Ochre at Dubbo, and the Langlands Hanlon Cup at Parkes.

For complete race fields, click here.

by Michael Dumesny, for HRNSW