29 December 2022 | Duncan Dornauf for Tasracing
Mitch Ford will take a six-win lead over Mark Yole into the final meeting of the harness racing season at Carrick Park on Friday after a driving double in Burnie on Tuesday night.
The highlight of Mitch’s double was the win of Oneofthelads in the night’s feature race, the $12,000 North West Plate Final.
Sent out as a $2.60 chance, Oneofthelads produced his brilliant standing start manners to lead, while the $2.40 favourite Kolovos didn’t, galloping after the start before leading the one-wide line after the first half lap.
Ford was able to record a slow lead time of 45.9s, before a sedate first quarter of 32.5s, increasing the tempo from the 1200m in quarters of 30.5s, 30.0s and 29.4s.
The gelded son of Caribbean Blaster was always holding 20m back marker Agouda Ruler over the concluding stages with a half-neck margin between them at the finish.
The other winner on the card for Mitch came in the opening race with 11-year-old gelding Karalta Dazzler, who led all the way for his 27th win and only his second for the season at 43 attempts for the term.
Mitch shared driving honours at the meeting with Cody Crossland, who drove the Ben Yole-trained duo Urus and Star Rocker to victory later in the night.
Dylan Ford (cousin of Mitch) also drove a double, including Spot On, who gave Ben Yole five training wins on the Burnie card.
Dylan also scored aboard Margarets Clan, who led all the way to break her maiden status, with connections collecting their $10,000 first win Tasbred bonus.
The daughter of Betting Line was having her fourth start since joining the Tammy Langley stable.
Owner-breeder Vernott Woods was rewarded for his patience and perseverance when Windy Hanover recorded his maiden win at start seven, with trainer Rohan Hillier in the sulky for the win on the eight-year-old son of Cardmaster Hanover.
The meeting was significantly delayed due to the late arrival of the vet, which resulted in short 25-minute gaps, with participants to be congratulated on getting the meeting conducted in a timely manner.
There was also a minor delay to race four when the automated sprinklers on the infield turned on.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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