by Graham Fischer
Popular young reinsman Michael Smith drove his first winner back from injury when the trotter Bold Law scored an impressive win in the Hopkins Saddlery Trotters Discretionary (2230m) at Globe Derby Park on Saturday night.
Smith injured his right wrist in an accident in late April and only returned to driving on the Friday night before partnering Bold Law on Saturday night.
He has formed a good association with the Marcus Hearl-trained trotter and the pair were in peak form on Saturday.
The five-year-old, a $5.10 chance, flew away from the stand start to quickly assert control and was rated perfectly by Smith to score a 3-1/2 metre win from Tendaho ($13.10) with Rejuvenation ($4), four metres away third.
Once in front, Smith slowed the tempo for a 33.4 first quarter of the last 1600m, before increasing for 31.0, 29.3 and 30.3 second quarters to maintain control and score comfortably.
The victory was Bold Law’s ninth from 56 starts but he also has been placed 23 times.
Saturday night’s race was his first for just over a month and Hearl and connections look sure to have a lot of fun with him over the next few seasons.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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