Family is the essence of harness racing and that was beautifully evident with Okanui Beach’s emotion-charged win in a stellar $100,000 LAFM Beautide at Launceston on Saturday night.
Victorian father-and-daughter team Craig and Abbey Turnbull combined to win the heavily promoted race for Tasmanian-bred pacers with exciting four-year-old Okanui Beach.
Patience and a slice of luck at the right time was the key to Abbey’s winning drive to escape a tricky spot three back on the pegs, get to the outside at the right time and emphatically beat a potential-laden field.
The post-race scenes were superb as Craig Turnbull rushed to the winner’s enclosure to meet his jubilant daughter.
“This is so special,” Abbey said. “It’s by far my most important win and to share it here with Dad is something I’ll cherish forever.”
Mum Rebecca Cartright was watching proudly from their Tatura base.
“She couldn’t be here. Someone had to stay and look after everything at home, but I know how excited she’ll be,” Abbey said.
“I’m so proud of the job Dad’s done with this horse and the success we’ve had bringing him back down to Tasmania.
“The people have welcomed us so amazingly well. We’ve had the best time each time we’ve come down and to win this really is the icing on the cake.
“This horse is the best advertisement for Tasmanian-bred horses and I’m sure there’s plenty more to come from him.”
Craig Turnbull said he paid just $20,000 for Okanui Beach, a son of Downbytheseaside.
“I had $20,000 to spend for Doug (Johnston) and he quickly got to $20,000. I was desperate to get him and thankfully it stopped at $20,000,” he said.
Okanui Beach’s win was his seventh from just 20 starts with another nine placings and he’s banked $151,916.
“He’s won the bulk of it over here (Tasmania). Only about $20,000 has come in Victoria,” Turnbull said.
“It’s the third time he’s come down here and he won the Dandy Patch here as a two-year-old.”
Okanui Beach hit the front halfway down the home straight and held off a luckless Carmen Emjay to win by 2.5 with leader Hungry Hippo fighting back strongly after looking beaten on the home bend to finish another 1.1m away in third spot.
They clocked a slick 1min58.5sec mile rate for 2200m, just 1.3sec outside Beyond Delight’s 2024 track record.
Carmen Emjay’s trainer Paul Ashwood lamented what might have been.
“I think she should’ve won. She was held up at a crucial stage when the winner was out and running and she still got so close at the finish,” he said.
Ashwood’s nephew, Alex Ashwood, trained and drove third placegetter Hungry Hippo, who made an early move around the field to take the lead.
Heavily backed favourite Likeyouforareason was another hard luck story after being checked and galloping briefly while fighting to hold the lead on the first bend from The Bride. He lost a key position and did well to finish sixth.
The Bride’s trainer-driver Rodney Ashwood was suspended for six meetings for causing the interference.
Launceston Pacing Club chairman Chester Bullock lauded the success of the night.
“We’re proud of the attention the race gained and thrilled how the whole weekend played out,” he said. “There’s no doubt boosting the prize money to $100,000 (from $80,000) really gave some added attention, which the race deserved.
“We’d love to run it again here next year and keep building the prize money with the support of TasRacing.”
PHOTOS: Stacey Lear
