Miss Maravu Delights at Tamworth Paceway

Narrabri harness racing trainer Jarred Hetherington has kicked off the new year in style, with a convincing win at the first Tamworth Paceway meeting for 2023.

The Hetherington-trained Miss Maravu stormed home in emphatic fashion to win race seven in the 10-race programme.

Just weeks earlier at Tamworth, Miss Maravu won by a head at the track.

Last week, the five-year-old mare was driven by Jemma Coney and its victory also marked Coney’s first win of the season.

Miss Maravu proved strong throughout the HRNSW Guaranteed Ladyship Pace, sitting in the depth for much of the journey.

As the final bend approached, she maintained a consistent lead for a strong finish.

“It was nice to start the year off with a win,” Hetherington told The Courier.

“Miss Maravu really had her foot on the till.”

While Miss Maravu still has some issues which need ironing out, Hetherington is hopeful of continued success in the future with the mare.

“She’ll pick up a win in Brisbane,” he said.

“I’ve got a handy bunch of mares at the moment.”

Narrabri featured prominently in Tamworth’s first harness racing meeting of 2023.

Hetherington-trained horses featured across five races while fellow Narrabri trainer Garry Shepherdson had three horses in three races.

Ease Up Moby, a stablemate of Miss Maravu, was the first Narrabri-trained pacer to take to the track in race one on Thursday afternoon.

Sahara Jewel followed in race two, coming in at third place.

“She’s a little mare who doesn’t win often but she often picks up a nice cheque. It was a good effort,” Hetherington said of Sahara Jewel.

“It was a great drive by Jack Buckman.”

Always Bopping featured in race eight before two Hetherington-trained pacers were expected to be part of race nine.

Somethingaboutlexy was a late scratching in race nine after two false starts, however, stablemate Sammi Dance was part of the line-up.

While the pair’s performance wasn’t ideal, Hetherington is hopeful the two will also prove successful when they head to Brisbane.

“She had a bee in her bonnet,” Hetherington said about Somethingaboutlexy’s late scratching.

The behaviour was out of the ordinary for the mare who is usually a solid contender.

For Sammi Dance, her performance was slower than usual.

For the Shepherdson stables, Yellow Bow took to race three before Montana Nights in race five.

Flirts Diva, driven by Dean Chapple, showed a bit of gusto in race six, however, slowed towards the finish to end up in fourth place.

Shepherdson’s three horses are due to return to Tamworth tonight for a race meeting at the paceway and will be joined by stablemate Sweet Sunshine.

The Hetherington-trained Miss Maravu is also listed to race at Tamworth following her win last week.