Tamworth preview: Paul Messara calls on former bull rider Braith Nock for Lightfast

TRAINER Paul Messara will turn to a former bull rider having what will be just his fourth race ride to help Lightfast break a run of near misses at Tamworth on Thursday.

Messara is set to give young apprentice Braith Nock his first ride for the Scone stable when he pilots Lightfast in the TAB.com.au Class 1 Showcase Handicap – Heat Of The Rising Star (1200m).

Nock has recently put a bull riding career on hold and taken up a position with fellow Scone trainer Brett Cavanough.

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The 4kg claiming apprentice, who has three rides on the afternoon, claimed his first winner with his maiden race ride at Inverell on New Year’s Day and will look to double his tally when he links up with Messara.

“This is quite an easy horse to ride and the kid is a bull rider so I thought we would give him a go,” Messara said.

“He is only young and up until recently he was basically a competitive bull rider and only has recently come back from America where he was riding bulls.

“I think he has been working with Brett for quite a while and has ridden a lot of trials.

“As I said, Lightfast isn’t a difficult horse to ride and we are going to be on the speed. From the barrier, he won’t have to do too much.”

Lightfast has been consistent since joining Messara’s yard from Michael Moroney, winning on debut with four seconds and a third on his resume since then.

The son of Dundeel has placed at his past three starts heading into Thursday’s test with seconds at Tamworth and Muswellbrook in his two most recent runs.

Messara also accepted with Lightfast at Wyong on Wednesday but elected in favour of the Tamworth assignment.

“I thought this race was slightly weaker on paper,” Messara said.

“Although this might be a bigger field, we have drawn well and can take the four kilos off which is a bit of a help particularly when you’ve drawn well and he will be right up on the speed.

“He keeps finding one better and has had a few seconds in his short career but he has been genuine his past couple of runs and just found one better on the day really.”

Messara will also saddle up Valoria in the Courthouse Hotel Maiden (1200m) and has opted in favour of the senior jockey Aaron Bullock for the first up test.

The Maurice filly, which started her career in Sydney with Gary Moore, was been given a short freshen up after she was last seen finishing third in a 1000m event at Scone on November 14.

“She has been a little bit tricky since I’ve had her,” Messara said.

“She started off really well with Gary Moore, coming second in town on a very heavy track.

“When Gary pulled the pin, she came up to me and when you get a horse midway through a preparation, it’s always tricky.

“It’s always better to stop and start again so hopefully this time, we can see the best of her.”

Messara’s stable has been firing on all cylinders this season with 18 winners from 58 starters.

WELL-TRAVELLED GELDING TO SHINE AT HIS NEW HOME

FANAAR has travelled further around Australia than the early settlers during his career and will look to kick start life at his latest home track at Tamworth on Thursday.

The son of Stratum is set to have his second start for new trainer Mark Hatch when he contests the Tamworth Country Music Cup Open Showcase Handicap (1200m).

It will be the 16th different track Fanaar has lined up in his well-travelled racing journey which has seen the gelding line up in four states across the east coast at venues including Morphettville and Flemington.

Most recently he has campaigned with Peter Fleming in North Queensland but a recent setback has seen him transferred to Hatch’s care to start fresh.

“I’ve always trained for his owner Kris Thomas, doing some pre-training for him, and he sent me Fanaar down here once he bled up there,” Hatch explained.

“He has been going well since he got to us and appears to be happy as Larry.”

Fanaar made a strong first impression for Hatch yard when coming from back in the field to finish third in an 1050m event at Inverell.

Hatch expects he can improve second up from a break where he has been supported in TAB betting.

The Cody Morgan-trained Seguso and Rodney Northam’s Very Sharp are considered his main rivals his main rivals according to the bookies and Hatch agrees,

“I think Rod Northam’s horse will be hard to beat with the 3kg claim and Cody’s horse (Seguso) first up from a spell,” Hatch said.

“It’s not an easy race.

“He is half a chance and has seem to come through his first-up run well.

“He has been working well at home.”

Fanaar has drawn the inside gate for jockey Aaron Bullock but Hatch admits that isn’t necessarily a positive thing for his six-year-old.

“Adam Sewell who has ridden him a couple of times and said he doesn’t like coming inside horses so the one draw might not be an advantage,” he said.