Reinsman Tom Ison finished off 2019 the only way he knows how - driving winners!
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Booked for six drives at Sunday's Tamworth harness meeting, Ison finished the night off with fours winners, a third and a retirement due to a flat tyre.
Ison, a former Tamworth resident and now working in the Hunter Valley for the Roy Roots Jnr stables, opened his account in the first race of the evening, and in doing so presented his aunt, Gina Ostle with her first home winner as an owner.
"She (Gina) wanted to buy a horse to race so I said "let's buy a kiwi as they go good" so that's what we did and I think we have got a good one here," Ison said after the win of Deanne Panya, who he races in partnership with his aunt.
"The mare wasn't cheap but she has won two straight up for us so hopefully she keeps that up."
Sunday's win made it back-to-back wins for the McArdle-Lady Toddy mare after success at Newcastle the previous start on debut on Australian soil, winning by a half head in a mile rate of 1.57.7 for 1609 metres.
"Last week at Newcastle she (Deanne Panya) had to race in the chair and it was a tough run for her," Ison said.
"Hopefully we can just have some fun with the horse."
The Tamworth start saw Deanne Panya racing four back on the outside running line with Ison commencing a three-wide run as the bell sounded before upping the ante on his opposition from the 400m mark to come away for a 31.4m win over Miss Catalina (Lola Weidemann) with Always A Lexus (Brad Elder) 7.2m away third.
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In recording her second win from eight race starts Deanna Payna had a slick mile rate of 1.58 for 1980m, and being the first horse that Gina Ostle has raced in the harness industry, gave the Tamworth resident a great thrill.
Ostle has been a great support to her family over the years with a heavy involvement in the sport via her late father, Sam Ison, and her brother Andy Ison, who is a resident trainer at Tamworth.
Ison also closed out the year well for his boss Roy Roots Jnr, who trained the four winners that he guided to the finish line in Deanne Panya, Yayas Hot Heart, Glengarry Rose and My Anna Rani.
Yayas Hot Heart held on for a 1.7m win over Dark Side (Courtney Sutherland) and Jackeroo Shannon (Sarah Rushbrook) 4.1 metres away third in a mile rate of 2.01.5 for 1980m in taking out the Northern Daily Leader Pace.
Glengarry Rose then had a 1.7m win over Always A Secret (Leigh Sutton), and Corporal Luna (Josh Osborn) a neck away third with a mile rate of 1.59.8 for 1980m in the Lounges Plus After Christmas Sale Pace.
"She was good in the run - raced three back on the pegs and at the 250 mark managed to get out and come four wide and race down the outside," Ison said of the seven-year-old Real Desire mare.
"We were confident with her," he added, with Glengarry Rose paying $7.50 for the win.
My Anna Rani then rounded out the wins for the Roy Roots Jnr - Tom Ison combination in taking out the Dome Financial Group Tamworth Ladyship Pace.
"Just too big, too strong - another good run," Ison said with the Roll With Joe mare having a 5.9m win over Bara Halley (Stacey Weidemann) and Gotta Rush (Sarah Rushbrook) a neck away third and a mile rate of 1.58 for 1980m.
"We were up there early and got to the chair so that was great run going 1.58," added Ison.
He also accepted two drives for his father Andy's stable finishing third with Point Oh Five and having to retire with Overthemoon who sustained a flat tyre not long after the start.
"It's been a good night - something to celebrate the New Year with now - it can only get better," he said.
Ison will kick off 2020 with five drives at Maitland on Friday night before heading to Menangle on Saturday night and then return to Tamworth for another Sunday twilight meeting.
