30 September 2024 | Duncan Dornauf for Tasracing
Tasmanian Drivers Premiership leader Rohan Hillier claimed another feature race win for the season when High Flying Harry claimed the $20,000 Tasmanian Horse Transport Show Cup (2200m).
The Conor Crook-trained six-year-old gelding was having his first standing start race since arriving in Australia from New Zealand in May 2022. He stepped cleanly after being a bit tardy in the pre-race procedure.
Hillier had the gelded son of Bettors Delight positioned in the one-out one-back from the second row of the front before leading the three-wide line from the 800m.
High Flying Harry ($6.50) put the head in front at the 400m and proved too strong late to score by 2.4m over Stepping Stones ($14), with Keayang Fitzy ($5.50) a further 2.1m away third in a mile rate of 2:00.1s.
“It was a good win. I’m unsure if he fluked going away because he did carry on in the prelim. But he stepped good, and if he continues to do that, he will be hard to beat in the Discretionaries going forward,” Hillier said.
Hillier made it a race-to-race double in the Ladbrokes Bet Ticker Pace (2200m) when partnering Sweet Lou gelding, Didyalousaroosta ($1.70 fav), to victory.
Trained by Rohan’s brother Troy, Didyalousaroosta settled three-back the inside before leading up the one-wide line for the final 1400m of the event.
The pacer was too good late for Iden Kamikaze ($18) and More Than This ($4.40) in 1:59.9s.
“He did a good job. He probably needed the run as he hasn’t raced for five weeks, and there is improvement there, I reckon,” said Rohan.
Troy indicated post-race that the Tasmanian Derby, on 2 November, is one of the pacers goals.
Conor Crook did land a training double on the program with multiple interstate country cup winner Glenledi Elvis ($2.60), appreciating a significant drop in class to take out the Lees Orchard Stakes (1680m) in 1:57.3s.
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