Tamworth trainer Scotty-Jon Welsh headed to the Tamworth at Armidale meeting with four runners – and after a non-productive start to the meeting, he headed home with a stable winner in Commanche.
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Welsh had two runners engaged in the opening event, the TAB App Pace, with True Feelings and Big Smoke Shannon, but was soon back at the stables to unharness after the race was abandoned when Ladyjoanna Shannon, from the Les Enks stables, fell.
The horse and the reinsman, Dean Chapple, were cleared of injury.
The win of Commanche proved to be a popular one, with the six-year-old gelding recording his fifth career win. His mile rate was 1.59 for 1609 metres. He paid $5.50 for the win.
“He is going good, this old horse,” stated trainer and reinsman Scotty-Jon Welsh.
Commencing off the back line from the seven barrier, Welsh followed the one horse Bandan, with Maitland reinsman Brad Elder in the gig, who went straight to the race lead.
Bandan set the tempo of the race, with 28.8 seconds for the first quarter, 31.1sec and 29.5sec for the middle stages, and home in 29.6sec.
“They were running along well, which suited him down to the ground,” said Welsh.
Welsh’s other runner Crystal Tiara finished fifth in The Pub Drive of the Year 2018-Peter Hedges Pace. The race was won by Long Dirt Road, from the Jarred Hetherington stables.
“I was pretty confident I was going to get a winner today – this was my last drive for the day, so I got it,” said Welsh.
“This horse (Commanche) has got a home forever with me.”
After trailing Bandan throughout in the race, Welsh unleashed Commanche on the final turn to grab the Julie Hobday-trained Bandan, for a head win on the line. Star Of Wonder, also from the Hobday stables, finished third.
“I don’t get into the winners circle too often,” said Welsh.
