Harness Racing: Tony Missen and Blake Hughes double up at Narrabri Carnival of Cups

Hand Writer, after breaking her maiden status the week prior, made it two wins in-a-row in taking out the Luke McGrath Farrier Services John Dean Memorial Final with 18-year-old Hughes taking the reins.

"She had enough gate speed to hold her own," Hughes said of the four-year-old Sportswriter-Perfect Katie mare.

Commencing from the four barrier, Hughes went straight to the lead before being joined by Feel The Spirit (Tom Ison) racing out in the breeze.

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"Once we got to the top, we got a bit of a breather," he said.

"Feel The Spirit came up real quick looking for the lead."

"Once I had an easy first 400 metres, I thought I might as well hold the lead."

Hand Writer led the field throughout in the 1760 metre race with Hughes electing to skip away from the field and go on for a 4.7 metre win over stablemate In A Lucky Place (Madi Young) with Dreamouts Niece (Lola Weidemann) 5.4m away third.

"I was a bit worried about Misso's (Missen) other runner as it does have a little bit of speed," added Hughes of In A Lucky Place

"But this mare (Hand Writer) backed up good from last week."

With only eight race starts Hand Writer has picked up the two wins and over $7,000 prizemoney in her last two starts.

"She (Hand Writer) did it a lot tougher today than her win in the Heat," Hughes said.

He and Missen then presented to the winner's podium with I'm So Better in the $11,000 Santos Cup.

Commencing from the ten barrier Hughes found himself at the tail of the field before electing to race around the field and sitting up outside race leader Mac Stubborn.

"I dropped back to one out five back after the start and then took off coming into the home straight the first time," he said.

"As soon as I saw them back off the speed up the front I went as she likes to do it tough in her runs."

"Once we got outside the leader (Mac Stubborn), we got a good breather and she was just too strong for them on the line."

With Mac Stubborn dictating the race tempo out in the lead the run down the 135-metre-long home straight on the final occasion, the two pacers engaged in a heavy battle, going stride for stride with I'm So Better snatching the win on the line.

"Mac Stubborn goes pretty good and was still kicking back and even at the finish he had another go at us," Hughes said.

I'm So Better held on for a half neck win over the Anthony Varga-trained and driven Mac Stubborn with Akuma (Caitlin McElhinney) another 3.5 metres away third.

For Hughes - who only had his first competitive race drive on the Narrabri Paceway last week - the young reinsman headed back to Tamworth with a pleasing tally of four wins - two if which were feature races - a second and two thirds from 10 drives.

"I don't mind the Narrabri track and it was good to get a couple of winners on a big day like today and of course to drive the winners for Misso," he said.

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