Feature race Trifecta! . . . now that's a Nugget worth collecting

AT his third attempt, Queensland trainer Graham Dwyer has won Tamworth’s popular Pub Group Gold Nugget feature.

The result was actually even better than he expected when Dwyer finished with the ‘trifecta’ in Tuesday night’s feature!

“That is just crazy what happened,” said Dwyer after the win of Hy Voltage (Rock N Roll Heaven-Mandalay Rose) driven by Hunter Valley reinsman Michael Formosa.

Hy Voltage scored by a half neck from stablemate Surf Ace (Brendan Barnes) with another stablemate Despondent (Dean Chapple) 2.3 metres away third.

“That was just bizarre to see that result,” said Dwyer.

“I was hoping he (Hy Voltage) would handle everything and when he galloped out, I thought “bugger” and that was the end of that”

Hy Voltage missed the start by galloping away from the eight barrier when the starter let them go while Despondent made the most of the four barrier to take the lead.

Dwyer turned his concentration to Despondent, who then seemingly had control of the race.

“I was actually watching the leader (Despondent), as he was copping a lot of pressure out in the lead,” said Dwyer.

The final 500 metre of the race saw Surf Ace present a three-wide attack with Hy Voltage taking the trail into the race.

“Surf Ace just went super, I was really rapt with how he rallied,” said Dwyer.

Rounding the final turn Hy Voltage raced four wide before going on to score and returning $12 for the win.

Race favourite Boyzhavtime (Tom Ison) finished fourth at $3.90.

Hy Voltage covered the 1980me distance in a mile rate of 1.56.3, just two-tenths outside the track record set by The Bus (1.56.1) in the 2019 running of the race.

Formosa knew that Hy Voltage was full of energy from the preliminary.

“I knew he was a good horse and highly strung,” said the ace Hunter Valley reinsman.

“He lost ground at the start but he didn’t have to work hard to catch the field.

“He travelled strong the whole race and once the pace was on, I thought he would have had a chance of a place.

“But the last 50 metres he really knuckled down.

“I thought it was a terrific run by the horse in front – Despondent would be a good one for the Golden Guitar.”

With a mile rate of 1.56.3, quarters were covered in 30.2s-29.1s-28.7s and a final quarter in 30.3s.

For Formosa, who is fresh off winning the Maitland Inter City Pace with the Andrew Stapleford trained One For The Rodi, it was his second Gold Nugget win after securing the 2014 running with his own pacer Ultimate Art.

Formosa finished the night off with driving a winning double with the win of Sporting Tristar in the Moonshiners-Honky Tonk Bar Pace (1609m) for Sydney based trainer Grant Fuller.

Dwyer will now look at which race will suit Hy Voltage at the Tamworth Carnival as the plans for a run in the Golden Guitar heats have now shifted after the win.

“I was hoping to have him for the Golden Guitar but he might have to go in the Cup now - we will have to see,” said Dwyer.

“That was my third attempt at winning the Gold Nugget.

“I finished second in 2020 and last year had no luck at all.”

With a $2,000 gold nugget as the winning trophy, Dwyer is yet to sight it, with Hy Voltage raced by his wife Martine.

“Martine owns the horse and I know she has the nugget,” he said.

“I haven’t seen it as yet but she deserves to keep it, she does a lot with the horses.”

Dwyer also had high praise for his chosen reinsmen of Dean Chapple, Michael Formosa and Brendan Barnes.

“The drivers have got to suit the job and as far as I am concerned, I picked the best,” said Dwyer.

  - JULIE MAUGHAN