TRACK announcer Craig Easey called it a "10 out of 10 drive" and it was hard to argue with him given what Nathan Turnbull produced in the GC32 Foal Nominations Due 5 August Pace (1,730 metres) on Wednesday night.
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I got into the sprint lane and that is how this horse likes to roll, he likes to take all the short cuts, and we got the cash.
- Trainer-driver Nathan Turnbull
Driving $5.70 chance His A Tease at the Bathurst Paceway, Turnbull sat one out and three back with a lap to travel with $2.20 favourite The Maldives locked away on his inside.
Ahead of him Wrangler Duke, who had placed third to His A Tease a week earlier, looked in control.
Trent Rue had found the front with Wrangle Duke after going from barrier five then was able to pinch easy sectionals of 30.9 and 32.3 seconds.
But down the back Turnbull made his move when Our Pepperjack put on a burst of speed ahead of him and The Maldives went roughly on his inside.
His A Tease was fourth into the final bend and after Turnbull ducked into the sprint lane, he finished the strongest to win by 2.1m over Wrangler Duke.
“It actually opened up with about 400 metres to go – no, a bit earlier than that – about 600 to go. The horse behind the leader rolled out and I had some luck," Turnbull said.
“I got into the sprint lane and that is how this horse likes to roll, he likes to take all the short cuts, and we got the cash.
”I knew it would come down to me and Trent, I raced him down the home straight last week as well.”
The win came after the Turnbull trained and driven His A Tease had placed second a week earlier at the Bathurst Paceway to Sabrage, driven by his younger sister Amanda Turnbull.
But she did not have a drive against him in this race and when Nathan Turnbull opted to use the sprint lane for the second consecutive week, it paid off.
“I always like my chances better when Amanda’s not in it, when Amanda is not there you don’t have to worry about her swooping down the outside,” he laughed.
It was the second win this season and seventh of His A Tease’s 86-start career.
It also continued what has been one of the most consistently strong periods of racing of the now six-year-old Getting It Right x Golden Rule gelding.
His A Tease has finished in the top three in each of his last four starts, something which not only pleases Turnbull, but owner Robert Ross.
"I got sick of telling him [Ross] that he just needs a bit of luck, but the last couple of weeks he’s got it,” Turnbull said.
"I felt bad for him paying up for him all the time, I said he just needs luck, but luck doesn't pay the bills. So it was good to get a win for him.
"He came to me with not a lot of form, but I'd said I'd give him a go."
Nathan Turnbull finished the evening with a winning double on what was a good night for his family.
His father Steve Turnbull trained three winners.
