Grosso Naso Photo by Brett Atkins
Tamworth trainer Tony Missen experienced his biggest payday at the races when his pacer Grosso Naso took out the $75,000 TAB Regional Championship Hunter Final at Newcastle last Friday.
Driven by Menangle ace Robbie Morris the four-year-old gelding was a well-supported second favourite following his solid performance to finish third in his qualifying heat a week earlier and then securing a perfect gate one draw.
From the draw, Morris was able to give Grosso Naso a perfect run in transit as after spearing out to the lead early, he then opted to take cover on the coat tails of noted leader Always Be Chaps.
Swinging for home, Morris had a lap full of horse and was sweating for a gap to appear, and when it did halfway down the running he was able to navigate a path to victory, going on to score by a half-length over race favourite Walter Warlock who was gallant in defeat afterenduring a checkered run while third placed Major Reason also ran an honest race after facing the breeze.
After the race, excited trainer Tony Missen said he was over the moon with his horse’s performance.
“Going into the race I thought we were a realistic chance from the good draw, and it all worked out perfectly with the ideal run our bloke enjoyed,” said Missen.
“His regular driver Blake Hughes opted to stay with Grace Panella’s mare Princess Mickayla,so we called on Robbie knowing that he has the knack for driving horses cold on the pegs which is exactly what we wanted.
“I was not confident that we could lead all of the way over the 2030 metre trip, so taking a sit was the best option and Robbie summed the race up perfectly and we got the luck that we needed and the rest is history.”
Grosso Naso will contest a heat of the Christmas Gift at Menangle tomorrow (Saturday) night before being aimed at the Tamworth Golden Guitar in late January which is a race that Missen and his owner group have always yearned to win.
Tonight, the Dubbo Harness Racing Club will conduct its feature meeting for the year and will distribute a healthy $134,000 in prizemoney across the nine-race program.
The feature race is the $30,000 Red Ochre Listed Classic which has drawn together a quality field of Fillies and Mares.
