Blake Hughes: Young reinsman pilots Redbank Olivia to win | Tamworth Paceway

"I have had three drives behind her for a second and two wins," said Hughes. "I was just happy to get another win for Stuart."

Hughes had had previous success behind the seven-year-old Courage Under Fire mare at Armidale in May.

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"If she has a good trip in the race, she always finishes off nice," said Hughes. "She has a good sit and sprint on her.

Redbank Olivia's win in the Portable Horse Stables Tamworth Pace was part of an eight-race program on Thursday afternoon.

"I thought going into the race she would be a good chance from the draw," Hughes said.

From the two barrier, Hughes let Redbank Olivia settle nicely into the race - landing the one-by-one racing position, with Ark (Brad Elder) leading the field. Smiling (Dean Chapple), who raced out in the breeze, was narrowly in second place.

"Once the speed was on in the race it helped us out a lot but I always felt confident," said Hughes.

"I pulled out three wide at the 400 mark. She did switch off a little bit once she hit the front but once the other horses came at her she responded well."

Racing three wide on the final turn and leading the field into the home straight, Redbank Olivia was soon joined by last-start winner Our Roys Dream (Tom Ison).

With a neat two-minute mile rate for the 1609m, Redbank Olivia took the win by a half neck over Our Roys Dream. Commanche (Scotty-Jon Welsh) was a further 4.6m away in third [place.

Redback Olivia paid $7 for the win.

Hughes was watching trackside earlier in the program as his partner, Jemma Coney, also entered into the winner's circle when Ladyeenwaiting took out the Multiquip Hatchery Pace (1608m) in a mile rate of 2min 01.1sec.

"Dad has been patient with her and it was good to see a first-up win," said Coney.

Ladyeenwaiting is trained at Tamworth by Greg Coney, with the six-year-old Lincoln Royal mare resuming from a spell. Her previous start was at Newcastle in February.

The mare flew out of the five barrier and achieved an all-the-way win.

"We got an easy middle half which helped us," said Coney.

"It Aint Royal [Tom Ison] kept her genuine in the race for a while but then he dropped away."

Ladyeenwaiting won by nine metres over Savannahs Boy (Sarah Rushbrook), with The Agene's (Murray Sullivan) a further metre away in third [place. Ladyeenwaiting paid $8.50 for the win.

Tralee Rocks, from the Ernie Mabbott stables, also secured a win first start back from a spell and paid $34.

Driven by Jake Hughes, Blake's brother, Tralee Rocks had her last race start at Albion Park in March.

On Thursday, she took out the Like Tamworth HRC on Facebook Ladyship Pace by a neck over Zoemagic (Jemma Coney). Peggy Sue Shannon (Dean Chapple) was another four metres away in third place.

The mile rate was 2.00.8 for the 1608m.

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