Maitland reinsman Brad Elder was set to shout himself a pay rise after taking out the opening event at the Tamworth harness meeting on Thursday afternoon.
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Elder as the owner of Wintech Equine Products, the sponsor of the race, enjoyed the run of the race behind the Ernie Mabbott-trained Angelina Julie.
"I thought she was a good hope of winning the race going into it," Elder said with the Modern Art-Premier Crop mare landing in the one-by-one after commencing from the three barrier.
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Thebigbadwolf from the one barrier, with Anthony Varga handling the reins, led the field while the Dean Chapple-trained and driven Peggy Stardust raced out in the breeze.
"I thought there would be a bit of speed on and when Dean (Chapple) put the mid race pressure on it was pretty good and helped us out a bit," Elder added.
"When they put the power on, she kept plugging away and got the cash by just a neck.'
Angelina Julie held off a fast finishing Don't Tell Dorothy (Elly Chapple) with Milwaukee Sunrise (Leigh Sutton) five metres away third.
"I am definitely giving myself a pay rise after that win," Elder said.
"I don't think that would happen too many times - people sponsoring the race and winning it to."
It was Angelina Julie's second career win from 26 race starts with Elder having two previous drives behind the five-year-old mare for a second and third placing before the winning drive.
With storms hitting the Paceway just before the opening race, conditions did not improve too much with rain continuing to fall during the second race on the program which saw Glen Innes Boy pick up his third career win at race start 51.
Trained at Quirindi by Ron Neal it was reinsman Dean Chapple who guided the seven-year-old Tinted Cloud gelding to the win in taking out the Johns Auto Service Pace.
"He loves to be in front, loves the lead and he was drawn to lead in his favourite distance over the mile," Chapple said on returning to scale.
"Today is more a front running day because of the weather," he said.
From the one barrier Glen Innes Boy went straight to the lead to produce a 2.01.1-mile rate for 1609 metres.
"He won at Newcastle with Anthony Varga driving him back in June and he went 1.57 that night - and the first race he won was the Bill Barraclough/Kevin Ward Memorial race at Armidale back in March so he has done a good job for Stu Dawson and Ronnie Neal (owners)," added Chapple
"He has been ultra-consistent and his form has been good"
Glen Innes Boy was the second race favourite at $3.70 with race favourite Heavenly Song (Jemma Coney) at $3.20 missing the start.
