15 June 2020 | Duncan Dornauf for Tasracing
Eight-year-old gelding No Spring Secrets caused a minor upset last night in Hobart when the Steve Lukac-trained pacer scored in the Ladbrokes Backs Tas Harness Drivers Pace.
Although odds of $10 isn’t much of an upset result, it was in this event given the short price favourite Cool Water Paddy started the prohibitive odds of $1.24.
It was the 14th career win for the gelded son of Tell All who from his second-row draw was kept out of a frantic lead time of 34.3s before driver Conor Crook made his move in the middle stages.
Oatlands based trainer Steve Lukac was not only pleased with the result, but he was full of praise for the drive.
“It was a good win, a lot of the credit has to go to (driver) Conor Crook, he summed up the situation spot on I thought,” said Lukac.
“He sat back early when they went hard, and as soon as they dropped anchor, he went around when they were running 31 and 32 quarters,” explained the trainer.
No Spring Secrets took his prizemoney earnings over $110,000 with the half-head victory where he defeated Blackbird Power and Call Me Hector, in a mile rate of 1m 59.2s for 2090 metres.
“It is a hard class that he is in, and he is one of those horses that needs things to go his way. Otherwise he finds it a little bit hard to weigh in,” said the trainer about the pacer who is rated at 97.
Lukac has no races planned for the pacer instead he will decide where he goes next in the coming days.
“He is one of those horses that I let him tell me when he is over the run, and he dictates to me when he is ready to start again,” explained the Oatlands based trainer.
Short price favourite Cool Water Paddy failed to beat a runner home, a veterinary examination after the race was unable to detect any abnormalities.
The win of No Spring Secrets was the first leg of a driving double for Conor Crook who scored later in the night aboard Giftofjoy who also completed a training double on the card for Rohan Hillier, with Lip Reader scoring earlier in the night.
Crook and Hillier weren’t the only ones to leave the course with multiple winners on the night.
Northdown trainer Geoff Smith prepared a double with Midair Meltdown and Chris Be Quick, with Todd Rattray in the sulky for both pacers.
Leading trainer Ben Yole prepared a training double with Pink Ponder and Altana Blue.
Meanwhile, Mark Yole has taken a one-win lead in the state drivers title after a driving double with Salvator Mundi, who he also trains and Pink Ponder.
Connections of all winners last night took home an extra $850 Ladbrokes Racing’s Back Boost with all trainers of every starter also collecting a $200 Ladbrokes Fast Start Bonus.
The $850 Ladbrokes Racing’s Back Boost is also up for grabs to the winners of each race in Hobart on Friday evening and again in Launceston on Sunday night.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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