Still Hungover capped off a highly successful three-year-old season with a decisive victory in the Group 2 $50,000 6ty° Bandbox Final in Launceston on Sunday night.
The Rod Ashwood-trained and driven filly (pictured) led from start to finish over the 2200-metre trip, finding the early lead from the mobile and defying her rivals down the TAB Racing Centre home stretch to finish 2.1-metres clear of Spoilt Sport, providing the Brighton mentor with the quinella in the three-year-old filly’s feature.
“A week is a long time in harness racing, I left here last week scratching my head with their disappointing runs in the Prelude finishing seventh and 10th after being in such good form leading into the race,” said Rod.
“We didn’t work them during the week and just allowed them to recover from the run and it has all come together tonight, both fillies have been up for a long time and they have done an awesome job so it’s time for the paddock and a good rest.”
The Sutter Hanover – Crystal Still filly is raced by her breeder Corey Hazelwood and has now won five of her 11 career starts including four of seven this season.
“I’m rapt for Corey and the family, it’s great to see an owner with only a couple of horses achieve success in such a prestigious race like the Bandbox, he may now be encouraged to consider breeding another one and that’s what we need to build our industry into the future,” said Ashwood.
“Spoilt Sport also turned in a top effort after racing in the death for the last 1400-metres, she showed some real courage and fight tonight and I’m looking forward to seeing them both furnish into top mares next season.
