Matthew Howlett won the Tasmanian Youngbloods Challenge for the second time at Mowbray on Sunday night in one of the closest finishes in the series’ 30-year history.
A win on Spot Eight and fourth placing on Bona Fide Hustler saw Howlett finish the six-race series with 52 points, only one ahead of Nick Brockman and Wade Rattray who dead-heated for second.
Howlett was the youngest ever winner of the competition for junior drivers in 2013 when he was successful as a 16-year-old.
He was seven points off the pace going into Sunday night’s finale and did well to make up the leeway considering his two drives both started at double-figure odds.
Spot Eight was a $13.50 chance in the first of the Mowbray heats which saw the $1.30 favourite The Real Reverend miss a place.
It appeared to be a rough race and there was some drama afterwards when driver Dylan Ford threatened not to take his place in the following heat. However he relented and agreed to fulfil his commitment.
The second heat also went to an outsider, with Wade Rattray finishing powerfully on $17.80 chance Last Guy Standing to run down the favourite Finn Mac Kee.
The win left Rattray just one point shy of winning the series for the second year in a row.
Samantha Freeman was unable to take her place in the last two heats due to injury and was replaced by Duncan Dornauf.
FINAL POINTS: 52 Matthew Howlett; 51 Nick Brockman, Wade Rattray; 43 Sam Gangell; 40 Dylan Ford, Lyarna Graham; 39 Justin Howlett; 28 Brady Woods; 25 Jack Laugher; 21 Duncan Dornauf; 20 Sam Freeman.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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