WHILE The Lagoon trainer Nathan Turnbull enjoyed the New Year’s Eve festivities on Monday evening, he had more to celebrate than just the end of another year.
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He was also celebrating a victory in the Medlyns/Castrol Series Gig Final (2,040 metres) at Parkes, his four-year-old Lukes Gift saluting in the $10,200 feature.
“That’s the third gig race I’ve won in Parkes, it’s certainly a happy hunting ground over there,” he said.
“I won a gig race over there the first year that I came back into driving, then about 15 months ago Brocks Under Fire won a gig race there too.”
On the back of a heat win three days earlier, Lukes Gift given good support for the feature to start as the $3.50 second-elect with Amanda Turnbull in the gig.
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She used his speed early and while Write About Her kicked on the inside, Lukes Gift was still able to cross and take the lead. From there he was tested, but never headed.
While Multi Score rolled up into the death seat and Write About Her was pulling hard in the trail – race caller Craig Easey joking Madi Young would “have arms like Arnold Schwarzenegger” – Lukes Gift was able to pinch a cheap 32.7 seconds first sectional.
The field bunched as they turned for home, Multi Score surging three wide while even further out on the track, the Robbie Clifford trained Josephine Brook was fast making up ground.
However, Lukes Gift held on to take the honours in a good finish. He won by 1.6m ahead of Multi Score ($4.20), making it a family quinella as he was trained by Josh Turnbull and driven by Mitch Turnbull.
Third, a further 1.2m back, was Josephine Brook ($6.50).
“That’s definitely his go, to jump out to the front and then get a breather. He got a good half there and then did enough to hold them off there at the end,” Nathan Turnbull said.
“Me and my brother [Josh] were actually at a party together and we were both glued to the TV watching the finish.”
It was the third win for the Passmaster Hanover x Dural Gift gelding since joining Turnbull’s team last July, having previously been trained by Brian Portelli.
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“He came to me pretty much ready to go, he just wasn’t having much joy around Sydney so they sent him out here and he’s had better luck,” Turnbull said.
“I’ve got a good thing going with Brian Portelli. He gets the horses up and going and if they’re not good enough for Sydney, he sends them out here and they can pick up a few wins in the bush.”
While Turnbull said the owner may look at selling Lukes Gift now he has notched up some victories, he would like to see the gelding given more starts.
