Narrabri pacer Future Fun races to victory at the Tamworth Paceway

Seven was the magic number when Narrabri-owned-and-trained pacer Future Fun raced to victory at the Tamworth Paceway last Thursday.

The Garry Shepherdson-trained, Chris Shepherdson-driven pacer wore the number seven saddlecloth in the seventh race of the afternoon in Tamworth and charged home to secure a memorable victory.

It was the six-year-old gelding’s seventh start since his last win which was at Tamworth back in July.

In the 1609-metre Furney’s Stock Feeds Tamworth Pace on Thursday, the pacer owned by Narrabri’s Nathan and Charles Dicks, Peter, Chris and Garry Shepherdson and Neil Drysdale started behind pole position on the second line.

He was one of the fastest starters and quickly established himself as one of the race’s front runners.

With 1200 metres left to run Future Fun occupied third position, one back on the inside behind the Danny Mackney-trained-and-driven pole position starter Pure Laughter.

There was one 750-metre lap remaining when the Darren Elder-trained, Andrew Bourke-driven My Carmen charged into second place to sit at the death after entering the turn into the home straight at the back.

Future Fun was hot on the heels of the leader Pure Laughter, then with 400 metres to go the reinsman made a well-timed move, taking Future Fun three wide heading into the turn before the home straight.

Future Fun ran past My Carmen in that final turn and charged home quickest to finish two-and-a-half metres in front of the second-placed Pure Laughter which he overtook early in the run down the final straight.

My Carmen eventually ran home sixth, with the Gregory Coney-trained, Madi Young-driven Royal Admiral claiming third place.

The victory was Future Fun’s eighth in 74 starts, and his sixth in 48 starts since joining the Shepherdson stable. All six of those victories were at the Tamworth Paceway with Chris Shepherdson in the sulky.

Three more Shepherdson-trained pacers were in action on the day.

In the fifth race of the meeting, which was the 1980-metre PeterMac photography Ladyship Pace, the Peter Shepherdson-trained Capital Cullect was driven by Chris Shepherdson to a dead heat for third place alongside the Brendan James-trained, Tom Ison-driven favourite Zoemagic.

In race seven, the Garry Shepherdson-trained Sumthin Special was driven by Dean Chapple to a ninth-placed finish in the race in which Future Fun was victorious.

In the eighth and final race of the meeting, which was the 2360-metre Hydes Hides by M and M Pace, the Garry Shepherdson-trained, Chris Shepherdson-driven Montana Lights ran last in a field of eight.