Two heats of the Breeders Challenge Series - targeted at two-year-old pacers - will be the focus at the Tamworth harness meeting on Thursday afternoon, with both heats offering $10,000 in prizemoney.
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Menangle Park-based Rickie Alchin has Watts Up Sunshine entered in the Village Jolt NSWBC 2 YO Pace.
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"It is many years since I went to Tamworth," said Alchin from his Sydney stables.
"I drove a winner in a heat of a Sires Stakes race, with Life's A Dream, for Dick and Jenny Cain, and that is the only time I have been to Tamworth."
Alchin's brother, Jarrod, had success at the Tamworth's January carnival this year, but it was back in 2008 that Alchin made his winning presence at Tamworth Paceway.
"I love going out to the country tracks, even though they are a long way, but hopefully it will pay off for us [on Thursday]," said Alchin, who grew up in Temora.
Watts Up Sunshine placed third in the Breeders Challenge Series at Penrith last week.
"He is a really nice horse," Alchin said of the Sunshine Beach-Cheeky Cheeky gelding. "His record speaks for itself."
Watts Up Sunshine is owned and raced by Brad Watts - with the gelding producing five wins from eight starts.
A regular visitor to Tamworth Paceway is Central Mangrove trainer Roy Roots Jnr, who has Artful Jack engaged in the Colts and Geldings Heat. The horse is looking to make it four wins on the trot.
"He has got a tricky draw," said Roots Jnr of the seven barrier.
he has singled out as the main dangers Watts Up Sunshine and the Blake Fitzpatrick-trained Meldrum (Jack Trainor), who is a last-start winner.
"There are some nice horses on show in these heats and it is good that my horse could go up to Tamworth a few weeks ago for a run," Roots Jnr said. "He has already seen the track and the other two [Watts Up Sunshine and Meldrum] will have to travel."
