Local pacer Montana Nights races to two podium finishes in Tamworth

Several Narrabri pacers were in action across two Narrabri Harness Racing meetings held at the Golden Guitar Paceway in the past week.

The Garry Shepherdson-trained Montana Nights was one of those, which raced to two podium finishes across the two meetings.

The seven-year-old gelding, owned by Narrabri’s Peter, Garry and Chris Shepherdson, Nathan and Charles Dicks and Neil Drysdale, was driven by local reinsman Chris Shepherdson on Thursday afternoon and again on Tuesday night.

The duo combined for a third-place finish on Thursday before racing to victory on Tuesday.

Montana Nights had not placed in his previous seven starts before Thursday’s meeting, since finishing second at the Golden Guitar Paceway on Thursday, August 19, last year.

But that all changed when he took out third place in the 1609-metre Lounges Plus Epic After Christmas Sale Pace (NR up to 52) on Thursday.

He started the widest of four on the second row wearing the number 10 saddlecloth in the fifth race of the day.

Shepherdson settled for a spot four back from the leader on the inside early in the race, which was where Montana Nights remained with a lap left to run.

The Narrabri pacer was ninth in a field of 10 with 400 metres left to run when the Andrew Ison-trained, Tom Ison-driven Christian Shannon and the Stacie Elliott-trained, Dean Chapple-driven Hoiho established themselves as uncatchable frontrunners.

However, third place was well and truly up for grabs and Shepherdson certainly knew that.

He took Montana Nights five wide into the final turn and the Narrabri gelding did the rest as he charged home to the third-placed finish. He edged out fellow Narrabri pacer, the Jarred Hetherington-trained Always Bopping, which was driven to fourth by Murray Sullivan (pictured right).

Montana Nights returned to the Golden Guitar Paceway on Tuesday where he took part in the third race of the night, which was a 1609-metre Club Menangle Series heat.

He started behind pole position in that race wearing the number seven saddlecloth, again driven by Narrabri reinsman Chris Shepherdson.

The duo spent the majority of the race on the inside, two back from the leader.

Again, with 400 metres left to run, Montana Nights made a move, but this time it was to contest for the lead.

Shepherdson drove him three wide into the final turn and they entered the final straight four wide.

The Clayton Harmey-trained, Grace Panella-driven pole position starter Acoltnamedsu led for the majority of the race and was in front when he entered the home straight.

He then was joined by Montana Nights and the Mitch Chapple-trained-and-driven Roclea Ruler in a battle for the victory, and it was the Narrabri pacer which got the job done as he charged down the outside to edge out Roclea Ruler by half a head.

The win was Montana Nights’ eighth in what was his 76th start, and his first since January 24 last year.

He earned $5292 in prizemoney for that victory and also guaranteed a start in the Club Menangle Series final on Saturday, February 5.

Chris Shepherdson drove two more Narrabri pacers to podium finishes on Tuesday night. That included the Peter Shepherdson-trained Yellow Bow, which placed third in race four, and the Peter Shepherdson-trained Gojoe, which placed second in race seven.