PACING
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Josh Turnbull's gelding Win Her Over has broken a winless drought stretching back 18 starts at the Bathurst Paceway on Sunday afternoon after taking out the Tanner Plumbing Pace.
The four-year-old started a $3.90 equal favourite alongside Bernie Hewitt's Wheoga Jack and for a lot of the race it looked like it could be down to that pair to fight it out.
In the end though it was Mat Rue aboard Hewitt's other chance My Little Twister ($6.90) who offered the sternest challenge, pushing Win Her Over all the way to the line and eventually missing out by a half-head.
Nathan Turnbull, who owns the horse alongside his brother Josh, took a light hearted dig at friend and former owner Pete Russo after the race.
"He used to race for Pete, he wanted to sell him so we picked him up," Nathan Turnbull said.
"He ran second last Wednesday and that was his first win for us tonight, hopefully the first of many hey Pete."
To complete the family affair, Nathan and Josh's sister Amanda had the winning drive, and yet again showed why she's among the most prolific winners in the state.
Early on it was a battle in four as Win Her Over, Wheoga Jack, Zenitra Shannon ($7.50) and Merry Wayne ($30) all duelled for the lead, but ultimately it was Win Her Over who managed to get to the front.
And there he stayed.
Once they had settled down in the 2130 metre event, Merry Wayne sat off the leader's shoulder with Pride Of Panorama ($6.20) tucked behind on the pegs, and Zenitra Shannon travelling one out and one back.
It looked as though Amanda Turnbull was working hard at times just to hold her chance back, and after a 39.3 lead time plus opening quarters of 39.3 and 31.8 seconds there was plenty left in the tank.
By the time they went past the post for the last time Tulhurst Major ($9.10) had come from the back of the field to pressure the leader and occupy the death seat but his challenge didn't last long.
Wheoga Jack took his place, going stride for stride down the back straight with Win Her Over, but at no stage did he manage to get to the front and he too fell by the wayside.
At the top of the straight Amanda Turnbull still led and having been at or near the tail of the field for the entire race, My Little Twister suddenly loomed as her only challenger.
The five-year-old horse came home with a bang but still fell just short, handing Win Her Over the fourth victory of his career.
The final two quarters were completed in 29.7 and 30.2 seconds with a mile-rate of 2.03.3.
Doug Lee's Just Mishiba ($11.90) came home for third, six metres behind My Little Twister.