Mitch Turnbull returns to the gig and steers Joes Redemption to victory

He was smiling because the win he felt Joes Redemption was due for arrived.

A four-year-old gelding trained at The Lagoon by Mitch's father Steve Turnbull, Joes Redemption had five minor placings across his seven runs this season heading into Wednesday night.

"It was about three weeks ago I wasn't able to drive him because I was waiting on a COVID test, so I was sitting at home just spewing because I thought he was about to win a race," Mitch Turnbull said.

"He ran second that night, but lucky I was in the seat tonight and he won."

Going from barrier seven in the Ultimate Machete HBNSW Stallion Tender Pace (2,260 metres), Joes Redemption was second in the line of betting at $5.50.

Turnbull hoped to find a good spot, but after the green light he dropped back to the rear as Wattos Mate set the tempo up front.

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As the bell sounded Turnbull got off the pegs and onto the back of favourite Lyrical Genius (Amanda Turnbull), but he found himself four wide through the final bend.

It had Turnbull worried, but Joes Redemption kept fighting down the home straight to get the nod by 2m over Lyrical Genius in a 1:59.6 mile rate.

"He's been racing really well but not having super luck. Even tonight I didn't think I was going to get him in a good position, which I didn't in the end, but I was lucky when that sprint was on, I was able to get him up there," he said.

"When I was going wide around the corner I thought 'I'm getting wider and wider, this isn't good' but then when I went past them I was smiling, so it all worked out well.

"I thought I had all the inside ones but Amanda's beat at that stage, I knew I hadn't done as much work as them and my horse felt well, but I sort of needed Amanda's horse to lay down because I knew it was going to be ready for a good fight.

"I was fortunate enough about half way down the straight I got the head in front and I knew I had it at that stage. It was just good he had a quiet first half of the race and then the last half he put his best foot forward."

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