After running last at Gloucester Park on August 3 in 2021, Tubbs Farquhar found himself looking for a new home, and in a case of being in the right place at the right time, Hayden Reeves loaded the then six-year-old into his float, unaware of the success he would eventually have with the gelding, with the icing on the cake being that no money was ever exchanged for the horse.
Plagued with feet issues at the time, it became evident soon after taking him on that the horse had a personality that you had to learn to love, with his feet a relatively easy fix for Reeves, who practiced as a farrier for many years leading up to training full time in more recent years.
Having his 46th start for the stable, it took 13 starts for the pair to establish their first win, ironically also at Albany on Feb 4, 2022, and then again just two weeks later, before going down by just a nose on the line in the Denmark Cup.
2022 was another great season for the then seven-year-old, claiming two wins in Albany, including the Xmas Cup, and in a case of Déjà vu, Tubbs Farquhar was beaten again in the Denmark Cup.
On Friday night, Reeves donned his white driving pants, and with brilliant gate speed, the pair crossed the field from barrier six, and after being able to dictate terms over the 2690m trip, the $9.50 shot was able to hold off the race favourite in Jackpot Joe NZ by a 2m margin in 2:01.8.
Bred by Annette and Kevin Charles in Hopeland, Tubbs Farquhar is out of Queen Delilah, who produced the very impressive Jump Operator in 2005, her second foal, who had 43 starts for 24 wins and 9 placings, for a whopping $313,175 in stakes, bred by Lynda Houston and raced by Ron Houston.
Queen Delilah now becomes the producer of three foals who have cracked $100,000 in stakes, including Getaway Plan, who took out the $100,000 2YO Colts & Geldings Sales Classic in April 2012, and then three months later, the $100,000 2YO Colts & Geldings State Sires Series Final.
Busselton based trainer Barry Howlett celebrated a training double on the night, with Dance Steps NZ taking out the third on the card, then with Hilarious Reign in race five, both driven by Aldo Cortopassi.
Hayden Reeves trained a double on the night, with Batavia Blackhole leading all the way in race four for Aaron Suvaljko, staving off a four-horse line-up in the run to the line, with a narrow margin in the finish at $14 odds.
Trainer/driver Cody Wallrodt got the cash in the first, with $2.75 favourite Alta Maguire recording his first win at just his third start.
Your Grace brought up Jemma Hayman's 50th training success after gaining her licence just a few years earlier, in the 2019/20 season. Driven by Tommy Sheehy, the double westbred son of Follow The Stars broke through for his maiden win at impressive $7.50 odds.
Aldo Cortopassi took driving honours on the night, with a treble on the card, with the final leg coming up in the penultimate, race seven, when he piloted Batavia Streamline to victory for trainer David Goulden, a first up win for the new stable.
Racing returns to Albany next Friday night, with the running of the $11,000 Christmas Cup the feature of the program.
