Star Bathurst trainer-driver Nathan Turnbull continues to follow in the footsteps of his grandfather, the great AD Turnbull, and dad Steve, by winning an honour he described as 'very special'.
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Turnbull was acknowledged at the Parkes Harness Racing Club's Australia Day meeting as the Clarinda Park IT Driver of the Year as well as the Cunninghams IGA Leading Trainer award for 2021, and he duly celebrated with a sensational treble of winning drives.
Speaking after a nail-biting win on Itsallaboutned ($1.45) in the Wal Norman Memorial, where all his extraordinary driving credentials were on show, Turnbull said he was very humbled to receive the awards, which both his father and grandfather have won.
"I come to Parkes all the time, the track is always well presented and you know you can bring any horse here which is a credit to the track managers," he said with a big smile plastered over his face.
"The place always turns out perfect and you feel very welcome.
"Dad (Steve) and granddad (AD) both won these awards, and it even came down to the last race with dad still catching me, but lucky enough I got the job done.
"It's very special to win these awards following in the footsteps of my dad and granddad before me," said Turnbull.
The awards didn't end there for Turnbull - a regular at the Parkes track all through the year - with his horse Key Defender holding on in the last race to win the Langlands Hanlon Horse of the Year over Dubbo runner Jacobs Thunder.
Itsallaboutned got Turnbull's night off to an exciting start in the Wal Norman Memorial, with the six-year-old gelding managing to hold on by a nose over the fast finishing Special Meaning ($19).
It was all about the horse of the moment, Key Defender ($1.60) though, who was ultra-impressive in a two length win over Don't Tell Phyllis ($6) in the feature race for the night - the Country Series Heat.
The gelding was only away fairly from gate 3 when the arms folded back, but it didn't take long for Turnbull to take the lead, and from there he controlled the entire race to win in 1:59.5.
It means Turnbull and Key Defender will be going to the $20,000 final at Menangle on February 5, and judging by the way he saluted the crowd with gusto after passing the post, Turnbull is pretty happy about it.
"Very happy with him after that win, to be able to show him the big smoke will be very exciting," he said after the race.
"He was pretty good at Bathurst the last couple of runs in the Star Trek Series, but to be able to bring him back here and get a really tight win will do him good.
"Might have to have the weekend off and go enjoy the final down at Menangle," said a stoked Turnbull, who was surrounded by equally happy family and connections.
Turnbull put the icing on the cake in the last race for the evening with an utterly dominant win for seven-year-old gelding Doctor Somes ($2.30), who made a mockery of the field in a slowly-run 2:04.3 14 metre win.
What a great ambassador for harness racing, and we are certainly lucky to have him in Parkes.
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