Gold luck for Rewald and Townsend at Tambo

By Jordan Gerrans

Trainer David Rewald has praised the sparkling riding form of Tessa Townsend as the duo combined to win a heat of the popular Outback Racing Showcase series at Tambo on Saturday. 

Townsend lifted the previously out-of-form Goldeeluck in the heat over 1400 metres, which was the fourth of the ORS ahead of the decider later this month at McKinlay Race Club.

The 32-year-old rider enjoyed a particularly prolific May across the Central West region. 

The Augathella-based Townsend piloted nine victories throughout the month. 

She rounded out the month with a Tambo double, scoring aboard Goldeeluck as well as lugging a massive weight to land the prize aboard Harbour Gold for trainer Brett Cavanough.

Former jockey Rewald has focused his attention on training in recent years from his Blackall base. 

And, he was full of admiration for Townsend’s permanent addition to the riding ranks in the region this season. 

“She is riding pretty good at the moment,” Rewald said.

“She rode a winner for me last week at Longreach, as well.

“She rode a lot of winners for me when she was an apprentice.”

Goldeeluck is in his first preparation for Rewald after previously being prepared by Tony and Maddysen Sears on the Darling Dows. 

The victory on Saturday in the Tambo ORS heat was the second since transferring to Blackall under the hard-working bush horseman. 

The five-year-old has mixed his form since joining Rewald but the son of Winning Rupert put in a strong effort to score by a length-and-a-half on Saturday in the $23,000 event.

The race doubled as the Tambo Cup for 2025. 

“He won on Saturday, but I did not expect him to do so, to tell the truth,” he said.

“Tess rode him pretty good; she got him out good, he led and kicked away.

“It was a good win in the end. He sort of did that at Blackall when he won four starts back, as well - he led and kicked away.

“He was back to 56kg on Saturday which helps. It is a good win as it is a good money race that one.”

The 2025 Outback Racing Showcase series comprises six heats and commenced in May at Barcaldine Race Club and culminates in a Final at McKinlay Race Club on June 21.

A prize pool of $30,000 is on the line at McKinlay later this month.

Horses must have competed in one of the six heats to be eligible to run in the decider.

Rewald says Goldeeluck is unlikely to progress through to the ORS decider as he has plans for the galloper in his local area in the coming weeks which include heading towards the Alpha Cup. 

Bevan Johnson’s Scorched Land (Hughenden), Shryn Royes’ Mr Metrics (Gregory Downs) and Lady Townson from the Damien Rideout team at Barcaldine have won ORS heats so far through the series. 

The Rewald stable collected a winning Tambo double on Saturday with the veteran conditioner believing he may have unearthed a bush Cups contender. 

Final Mission had been racing between 1200 and 1400 metres in recent weeks but jumped up to grab an 1800 metre event at her first attempt.

While she is only a Class 4 galloper, Rewald is hopeful she may become a Cups contender in the region down the line following her win in Benchmark 58 company. 

“That was a good win, actually,” Rewald said.

“That was her first attempt at 1800 metres. She had been racing well, she finished third the other day and been getting home well.

“When I gallop her, I cannot pull her up – she has always given me the impression she wants to keep going.”

Final Mission’s mother Final Zero was a Sydney winner in her career that netted six victories. 

“She is only four years old so maybe next year,” he said of a bush Cups mission.

“She will be a big more seasoned next year.

“There are a few mile races coming up for her. She might be a Cups horse by the end of the year, hopefully.”

The last two ORS heats will be held at Mount Isa and Longreach this month.