09 April 2018 | Graham Fischer
Wayne Hill, the 2016 Australian Driving Champion, dominated Saturday’s Globe Derby Park meeting coming away with a treble.
A freelance reinsman, Hill drove Clarenden Hustler to salute for trainer Claire Goble, won on Veddy Veddy Good for Port Pirie’s Waylon Hornhardt then landed first starter Jenesaisquoi for Jill Neilson.
The treble took Hill’s tally of winners to 70 for the season in South Australia and he sits third on the state premiership behind sister Danielle Hill (108) and Ryan Hryhorec (101).
He also has been driving at Mildura and is a clear leader on that club’s driving premiership with 20 wins.
“As a freelancer driver, and only three meetings a week here in South Australia I decided to go to Mildura as well,” Hill said.
“It has been a good move as I have teamed up with top trainer David Vozlic and we have had a good run.”
Hill’s first win was on Clarenden Hustler.
Backed from $2.20 into $1.50 favourite, Clarenden Hustler led comfortably from gate one in the Lion Pty Ltd Pace (1800m) and recorded a moderate 32.8 first quarter, picking up the tempo to 30.7 in the second quarter before dashing home with a 57.1 second last 800 metres.
“I’m grateful Claire put me back on him,” Hill said.
“I had other commitments recently which prevented me from getting in the sulky, but tonight, I had the luck to get on him. He is a nice horse, with good speed, and looked a great drive and so it proved.”
Goble said she was contemplating a trip to Mildura with Clarenden Hustler in the not-too-distant future.
Hill’s double came on Veddy Veddy Good in the Hygain Pak-Cell Claiming Pace (1800m) for Port Pirie trainer Waylon Hornhardt.
The pair had combined 24 hours early at Port Pirie winning with Weaponry. Both winners are owned by Gary Buckley.
Hornhardt paid credit to Hill’s drive on Veddy Veddy Good.
“The horse has a strong sprint, but it is only short, and you can’t go too early,” Hornhardt said.
“Wayne had the horse well placed one-out, one-back but when another runner came out wide with just under a lap to go I was hoping Wayne stayed in, and he did.
“He actually waited perfectly until we straightened and Veddy Veddy Good was good enough to win.”
The 10-year-old, a $6.20 chance, finished powerfully to grab a half-head win from Beaudiene Bill ($3.30) with Maywyns Storm ($2.90 fav), five metres away third.
The treble came up on two-year-old Jenesaisquoi for owner-breeder Geoff Easom and trainer Jill Neilson in the Trotsguide.Com.Au Pace (1800m).
A $10.30 chance, Jenesaisquoi fought on strongly to score a short half-head win from Culture King ($1.60 fav) with Disclosure ($2.40), 3-1/2 metres away third.
Hill said he had not been surprised by the win.
“A few weeks ago, in a trial at Gawler, I pulled her out to make a run and I thought she could make a race of it with Culture King which won the trial,” Hill said.
“When I got her out wide she became a bit lost and didn’t really finish off.
“Jill (Neilson) and stablehand James Clark have put a bit of work into her and tonight she was able to be inside Culture King when we made a run.
“She showed the experience of the trial and fought on strongly and was up for the battle and held him off.”
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
Driving The Future Of Harness Racing
