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THE GOOD
Country Music aficionados flock to Tamworth at this time of year for the Country Music Festival, however with some great racing opportunities, the chance to take a team to the New England region for a ‘working holiday’ has paid dividends for Graham Dwyer.
Dwyer has attended the Tamworth Carnival the past five years, the only exception being the 2021 edition owing to the Covid-19 border restrictions.
“It really is our chance to have a bit of a break, we take a small team down, give the rest of our team a break and stay for the two weeks, they have a really great atmosphere,” the Queensland trainer said.
“Off the track we went to a few concerts, attended the golf day, went to the Calcutta, even saw the bull riding one night, it really is a great break, and we get to spend time with some great people.”
Heading down the New England Highway chasing feature success, the Dwyer stable claimed two of the biggest three races across the carnival along with the consolation of the big one, with a horse he purchased leading into the Tamworth trip.
“I got Despondent from Daren Garrard before we came away because I thought he would be well suited at Tamworth on the tighter track and their racing style, but I don’t think Marty was too happy,” Dwyer chuckled.
Marty is Dwyer’s wife and any concerns with the purchase were quickly solved with victory in the Gold Nugget to another of his team, Hy Voltage on the opening night.
Not only was Dwyer able to secure victory in the Gold Nugget with the five-year-old, but he was also able to trifecta the race with Surf Ace finishing second and Despondent finishing third.
It was the first time that a trainer has been able to claim the first three placings across the line in the Gold Nugget, with the winning owner receiving a gold nugget valued at approximately $2,000, a great result for Marty Dwyer - the owner of Hy Voltage.
Five days later Surf Ace claimed a new track record for the 1980 metre distance when securing a heat of the Golden Guitar, the five-year-old pulling clear to claim an 11 metre victory in 1.55.8 for stable driver Brendan Barnes.
With Hy Voltage not a Golden Guitar hope, Dwyer progressed Despondent and He Said She Said to the consolation following the heats, with Surf Ace his runner in the $40,800 feature, drawn two off the second line in barrier eight.
Despondent repaid Dwyer’s assessment, winning the Guitar consolation by leading throughout for Barnes.
As for Surf Ace, it has been a rocky journey with the gelding since taking over his training with bad luck and bad barriers testing Dwyer’s resolve and patience.
“When we were getting the team sorted to head down to Tamworth, I did think he would be suitable and thought if he could make the Final that I would be happy with that result,” Dwyer said.
Off the back of his big win in the heat, Barnes was forced to take some evasive action in the early stages to maintain a one-wide position, eventually settling one out and three back as Gottashopearly set the pace.
Securing the right three-wide cover, Barnes angled Surf Ace wider around the home bend and the five-year-old responded, moving up to claim the front and hold off the fast-finishing One For The Rodi.
“Things just weren’t going right for him at home, bad barriers, bad luck, but he has turned the corner, once he got that good win at Albion Park, just before Christmas, it has been the turning point,” Dwyer said.
In sweeping the Guitar series Surf Ace was also able to extend his career prize money earnings beyond $100,000 for owners Mick Harvey, Gareth Hall and Gerard Moloney.
With the working holiday over, Dwyer is now back in Queensland and ready to build off his second consecutive century of winners season, one of just four trainers in the Sunshine State to reach triple figures last term.