31 May 2021 | Duncan Dornauf for Tasracing
A trip to Melbourne is on the cards for talented pacer Cool Water Paddy after his brilliant victory in Sunday night’s Bevan Lee’s Butchery Golden Mile in Launceston.
Trainer Juanita McKenzie said after Sunday’s victory that with limited options in Tasmania in upcoming weeks for her open class star, she is looking at a one or two start campaign across Bass Strait before a spell ahead of the spring and summer features.
On Sunday, hall of fame reinsman Ricky Duggan took the gelded son of Ohoka Arizona to the spot outside the leader before taking up the lead on the $2.30 favourite near the 1100 metre point.
After that point, Duggan drove a confident race with the pacer racing away from his opposition late to score by 8.2 metres over Racketeers Boy in 1m 55.8s.
“I said to the connections during the week that I was only going to sneak forward out of the gate, as up here the other week we came out in a 28 quarter, and I think that gassed him,” said Duggan after the race.
“Tonight, I was happy to sneak forward, and if we got left sitting outside the leader, then so be it, and was hoping he would have more left in the tank on the way home,” the master reinsman added.
The victory saw Cool Water Paddy break the $100,000 barrier in prize money.
Earlier in the night, Sweet Lou filly opened her winning account with a handy win in the Longford Equine Clinic Two Year Old.
It was only the second career start for the Rohan Hillier trained pacer who started as the $1.50 fav.
The win was a first leg of driving double for Hillier, who scored later in the night on the Michael Laugher trained Karalta Courage.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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