20 August 2021 | Duncan Dornauf for Tasracing
Young driver Mitch Ford will be hoping to kick off his weekend on a winning note, with the young driver having two strong chances on the Hobart card.
Coolhand Easton is the first drive for Ford in the Jackson Volkswagen Pace.
The gelded son of Washington Vc was placed out of the draw after galloping after the start at his most recent effort on 6 August.
“Last start was more my fault than his, he is a bit touchy in the mouth and I probably grabbed hold of his mouth a bit too hard out of the gate,” said Mitch when talking on this week’s Tasmanian Harness Highlights Podcast.
The Bianca Heenan-trained gelding was placed in three runs prior to his most recent start and was a trial winner in Hobart on Monday night.
“I was very happy with his trial,” said Mitch, which saw the pacer settle last of the three runners before proving too fast for his rivals in a 28.8s final quarter to score by 6.5 metres.
The other drive for Ford is in the Happy Birthday Susie Duggan Claimer, where he partners Gone And Forgotten, also from the Bianca Heenan stable.
Gone And Forgotten, a daughter of Well Said, ran her best race since joining the Hennan stable when second to Full Speed Ahead in a standing start claimer on 7 May.
“She sat three-back the fence and was able to get out around the corner and hit the line really strong,” said Mitch.
Mitch has happy with barrier two in Friday night’s claimer, which will be under mobile start conditions.
“This week from the draw, she should lob very handy, and going on her last run, she won’t be far away,” said the young driver.
Mitch indicated in the interview that he is willing to further his career in Victoria when the time is right.
Meanwhile, two talented Tasmanian pacers have been retired.
Last seasons mare of the year Still Hungover will head to the breeding barn, while connections of open class pacer No Spring Secrets have also called time on the pacers racing career.
Full details are in this weeks episode of the Tasmanian Harness Highlights Podcast, and make sure you subscribe to the podcast from your podcast provider
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