8 June 2018
PEAK HILL PREVIEW | MICHAEL DUMESNY
THE name Gail Osborne won’t immediately spring to mind for harness racing enthusiasts but the Bathurst health worker has sat closely on the fringe of the sport for most of her life.
Why? Because she is the sister of prominent Western District trainer, Wendy Turnbull and aunty to well respected drivers, Emma and Jason.
Ms Osborne will be taking a very strong interest in Sunday’s TAB Carnival of Cups meeting at Peak Hill and for very good reason.
In recent years, she has become a little bit more involved in the sport by opening up the purse strings and utilising the expertise of family friend and leading racecaller Mark McNamara to seek out some handy pacers from New Zealand.
And her venture could not be going any better as her first purchase a few years back was Tuapeka Glory while just over a month ago, Gail took ownership of the lightly raced three-year-old, Rock Bottom.
Last Sunday, Gail and the Turnbull siblings headed to Peak Hill quietly confident of success and returned home with a winning double with both their pacers scoring impressive wins.
This Sunday, they are hoping history will repeat itself.
Rock Bottom has drawn ideally in barrier two for the $10,000 Peak Hill Ex Services Club Final (1800m), race five on the program at 2.13pm
“This bloke has only been with us for a little over a month but I am happy with the way he is settling in,” Jason Turnbull said.
“He’s got a bit of an attitude but I am getting on well with him now and he is showing me all the right signs that he will develop into a nice racehorse.”
Rock Bottom raced without cover before gaining the upper hand in the final stages of last week’s qualifying heat and he is sure to strip fitter for this assignment.
His dangers will no doubt be the other heat winners, Taylor Hood from the Bernie Hewitt stable and handy pacer Barlor Troubador which is trained at Gilgandra by Barrie Batten.
Tuapeka Glory returned to his best form when winning last week but will have to be every bit as strong when he contests the Club Menangle Country Series Heat (1800m).
The six-year-old has not fared well with the barrier draw (six) and Emma Turnbull will have to size up her options at the start.
The son of Art Major had his last race start in NZ in 2014 and was first produced by GD Lodge at Parkes in April 2016 when he scored impressively.
But despite winning a further six races, the entire has had some issues over the past few seasons and Wendy has done a great job keeping him on track.
This Sunday, Tuapeka Glory will be right in the mix again with his main danger being the Nathan Turnbull trained and reined, Freddy Funk, who has won four of his past five outings.