Track Record; Real Social set a new track record at Tamworth when successful in a heat of the Golden Guitar last week. Photo by Dan Costello
Nathan Dawson is hitting the road.
The hard working Queensland based junior driver heads to Tamworth tomorrow (Friday) in a bid to win his biggest race to date, the Listed $25,000 Pryde's Easifeed Golden Guitar Final.
But Dawson is hoping the six hour road trip to the nation’s capital of country music will be a lot easier coming home with the trophy riding along in the passenger seat when he combines with the Steve Bunz trained Real Social.
"It's a big day when you head to Tamworth, it's a long drive but when you’re a live chance in a race like this, it makes it worthwhile and I'm hopeful of another bold showing from the favourable draw." Dawson said.
Real Social sports saddlecloth number three but is likely to start from gate two if the emergency Hero Bromac doesn't secure a start.
Last week, Real Social broke the track record when rating 1:57.1 for the 1980m distance.
His time was significantly quicker than former New Zealand pacer Rakarazor who returned a mile rate of 1:57.5 in her Australian debut.
And this is the horse that Dawson fears most.
"As good as my horse was winning last week, I thought Rakarazor was just as impressive and given it was having its first start over here and being from a great stable, it's going to be very hard to beat in the final.
"I thought my horse was very good last week, he went to the line with the plugs still in and actually ran through the line really well. My intention is to lead again and I'm very happy that we drew better than Rakarazor.
"The track was in great shape last week and it will be the same again this week, my horse handled it very well and cornered great. I think he has a really strong chance and I'm looking forward to being part of the action, a big crowd is tipped to attend."
While Dawson has competed at Tamworth previously, this is maiden Golden Guitar series.
If successful, the celebrations will be on hold with Dawson making the trek straight back to his Glamorganvale base, near Ipswich, in readiness for his commitments at Albion Park the following night.
Dawson is booked for four runners at Albion Park including former Queensland Pacing Championship winner Ideal Scott for trainer Ian Gurney in the open pace while he has five drives at the non-TAB Marburg program earlier in the day.
Last night (Wednesday) at Redcliffe he landed a winning treble with victories behind Win Or Die, Ima Sea Storm and Make A Point.
Dawson is currently 6th in the Queensland State Drivers Premiership.
