21 August 2020 | Duncan Dornauf for Tasracing
Evandale reinsman Lachlan Dakin will be hoping for a change of luck in this year’s BOTRA Claiming Novice Drivers Series.
Last year two of Dakin’s drives started $71 or worse, and another was scratched.
Dakin has had better luck with this year’s book of drives, drawing the shortest price favourite of the series, Lip Reader, in the Faithful Park Stud BOTRA Series Heat 3.
The Rohan Hillier prepared gelding recorded his sixth win of the season in Launceston on Sunday night, and despite drawing outside of the front row on Friday night, the pacer was installed as the $1.65 favourite and Dakin is looking forward to taking the drive.
“I’m pretty happy to get the drive, he has been going very well since coming over the waters,” Dakin said about the winner of six races since arriving in Rohan Hillier’s care in January.
“He is versatile, he can do it tough and he has a sharp sprint so he can make his own luck in that sort of race,” added Dakin about the gelded son of Sportswriter who has had five starts in Launceston for four wins and one second placing.
Other drives for Dakin in the series include Gauci in the opening heat, the Tourello Standardbreds BOTRA Series.
The Menangle winner in late June has been placed in three of five starts since arriving in the stables of Ben Yole and has a wide draw to contend with tonight.
“He has been going well, he hasn’t had much luck with poor draws and strong opposition,” said Dakin with the pacers best performance coming with the best draw the pacer has had in the state when second to Kuzma two starts ago.
Midair Meltdown in heat two has had better luck with the barrier draw, coming up with the pole position.
“I think he is a good each-way chance; he went very well when drawn one in Hobart two starts ago beating Capitallee,” said Dakin about the chances of the Geoff Smith-trained pacer.
Dakin’s drive in heat four is on the Ben Yole-trained Our Quinn who has drawn awkwardly in barrier four on the second line.
“He went ok last start but will need luck from the draw,” said the driver.
Dakin works for Longford trainer Todd Rattray six-mornings a week and then heads off to university during the afternoon.
The handy footballer is not playing footy this year as his team isn’t playing due to COVID-19 instead giving Dakin a chance to concentrate on his racing.
He is the son of Simon Dakin, a well-known owner-breeder in the harness industry.
You can catch the four heats of the BOTRA Claiming Novice Drivers Series on TasracingTV and Sky Racing 2.
Rain is forecast throughout the day in Launceston and it certainly arrived at around 9:00 am but it is expected to clear up prior to 18:00.
The first heat is race three at 18:40 with races four, five and six making up the four-race series.
Friday night’s seven-race card gets underway at 17:46.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
Driving The Future Of Harness Racing
