Champion trainer-driver Geoff Webster, an unabashed South Australian who now lives in Victoria, returned home to take out the 2016 Globe Derby Poultry Grain & Fodder SA Trotters Derby.
A $3 chance, Big Jack Hammer ran past Ball Park ($1.70 fav) in the home straight to score a four metre win with Crown Dream ($91.80) 40 metres away third.
“He’s a nice horse and improving,” Webster said.
“I was able to get a good trail into the race on the back of Ball Park. I was a bit concerned that Matthew (Gath, driver of Ball Park) was leaving his run a bit late but he timed it perfectly – I reckon if I had been in his spot I would have gone earlier.”
Webster, who was the top of the list as a trainer-driver in South Australia, moved to Victoria for financial reasons to stay in the sport – on the same trail as Lance and John Justice and Ross Sugars.
He has made an impact in Victoria with numerous quality pacers and trotters but his situation changed with the arrival of trucking logistics businessman Dominic Martello as a stable client.
Martello is a part-owner of Big Jack Hammer with longtime stable client Doug Webster.
“Dominic has really been bitten by the harness racing bug and I think he has shares in about half of the 30-odd horses I have in training,” Webster said.
“If he sees one he likes, he buys it.
“We picked this bloke out at a yearling sale. I didn’t know much about his sire (The Pres) but I really liked his look and the way he moved.”
Webster said he would now take Big Jack Hammer to Tabcorp Park Menangle for the $40,000 New South Wales Trotters Derby (2400m) on Saturday, May 28.
In the SA Trotters Derby, Cry Out Loud and Outback Madge came out quickly from gates four and five and went really quickly with a lead time of 44.6.
Matthew Gath on Ball Park came out quietly from gate six while Webster was even more restrained on Big Jack Hammer from seven but the end result was he was able to take a good sit on the favourite.
After the early battle, Outback Madge galloped leaving Cry Out Loud about 25 metres clear of Ball Park which was in second place.
Gath allowed his three-year-old to slowly make up ground and it was only coming off the back with 300 metres to travel that his issued the challenge to the leader.
Ball Park quickly took control but Big Jack Hammer quickly issued his challenge and was able to outsprint the favourite.
Cry Out Loud found the pressure too much and galloped eventually finishing fifth.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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