Tom Ison: Tamworth reinsman follows Tamworth triumphs with Newcastle success | Keeping Pace

Last Friday night Tamworth reinsman Tom Ison secured three wins there, on the back of his four wins at the Tamworth meeting the previous Thursday afternoon.

At Newcastle, Ison's victories included the Adam Ruggari-trained Manho, and Inter Dominion-nominated The Black Prince, from the Roy Roots jnr stables - the latter achieved in a nice mile rate of 1min 54sec for 1609m.

But Ison's most notable win for the night was behind his own pacer, Deanne Panya, who he races along with his aunt Gina Ostle.

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It was nice to see Deanne Panya return to the winner's circle and congratulations to Ison, who achieved his first win as a trainer, with the McArdle mare. It was the horse's first triumph since June 2020.

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At Monday's Newcastle meeting the Richard Williams-trained Lynton Creek won, in what was the Live Or Die gelding's debut for the stables and his first race on Australian soil.

Driven by Maitland's Mitch Chapple, the Kiwi had a half-head win in the 1609m race - recording a nice mile rate of 1.57.6 and paying $54.50.

The Tony Missen stables also tasted success at Newcastle on Monday, when Blake Hughes steered The Narrator to a 5.4m victory in the program opener. The mile rate was 1.59.7 for 2030m and the win return for punters was $15.60.

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At last week's Tamworth meeting, reinswoman Jemma Coney secured a double with Watchful Lady and Casino Comedy. Both horses are trained by her father, Greg.

The Dean Chapple stables picked up a win with Asterism, who was on debut for the stables.

Asterism produced an all-the-way win from the three barrier over 1980m. Having had only 14 race starts, the gelding has been mainly racing at Shepparton and paid $26.00 for the win.

With the NSW Standard Bred Owners Association being part of the Tamworth meeting, it was good to see local owner Tanya Welsh pick up a nice cheque from the Association after her mare Marley Bromac won under the training of Andy Ison and the driving of Tom Ison.

Ison went on to drive another two winners for his father, behind Faiselle and Miss Serena.

Zoemagic rounded out the four wins for Ison. It was the Stonebridge Regal mare's 12th win. She is trained by Brendan James and his fiancée, Emily Wilkin.

The other local winner on the program was the Jarred Hetherington-trained Miss Maravu, who was driven by Murray Sulivan. It is good to see Sullivan in winning form at Tamworth after moving here for work.

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Condolences to the family of Tom Shortis, a founding member and former president of the Armidale Harness Racing Club who passed away last month. He was 93.

It was also sad to learn of the passing of respected Hunter Valley trainer Barry Matterson, who died after a short illness.

While Cheryl Lancaster also passed away. Cheryl was the wife of Tamworth harness enthusiast John Lancaster and the sister to Janelle Veness, the longtime secretary of the Tamworth Harness Racing Club.

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The Greg Coney-trained Runfromterror picked up his third win on the trot, in the NSW Breeders Challenge 2YO Colts & Geldings Heat at Newcastle last week.

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