BEATING home a flying Amanda Turnbull driven runner at the Bathurst Paceway is no easy task, let alone trying to do it on foot.
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However, after combining with Tyler Colley to pull off that impressive feat on Friday night, Nathan Voytilla had the confidence to talk about doing it once more.
“That was a good win, I’m up for doing it again and going for another win next year if Tyler is up for it,” he said with a broad smile on his face.
A now permanent fixture as a novelty event on the Bathurst Harness Racing Club’s Oberon Community Night, the man versus horse battle always brings excitement.
Missed starts, false starts, a pulled hamstring and questionable handicaps have added to the drama since the inception of the challenge. This year the runners had to cover three-quarters of a lap while the horse tackled a mile.
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So far this season no driver has enjoyed more success at the Bathurst Paceway than Turnbull, while she ranks second in the overall Harness Racing New South Wales premiership.
She steered colt El Gran Senor for the challenge, but in the end Turnbull conceded she was well beaten.
“I couldn’t catch them this year, they were too good,” she said after Colley crossed the line more than 100 metres ahead of El Gran Senor.
“You don’t know how hard to go on the first lap before you sprint home, you are better off just going as fast as you can I think.”
Colley, who ran the second leg of the race after Voytilla made a strong start, was also pleased with the win.
“It was good, a bit of a laugh,” he said. “It was a good experience for me and Nathan.”