A pre-race plan devised by trainer Claire Goble and driver Wayne Hill enabled a win by Clarenden Hustler at Globe Derby Park.
From gate two in the Ubet Pace (2230m), Clarenden Hustler appealed as the likely leader but being a little suspect at the trip, and with the chance of him firing up, the pair decided to hand up the lead if the right horse came alongside on settling down.
That horse proved to be the highly-fancied Jakarras Ace, trained and driven by Ryan Hryhorec.
Hryhorec took the $3.60 chance to the front and it was that four-year-old which tended to get a little keen and left him a sitting shot for Clarenden Hustler along the sprint lane over the final 200 metres.
A well backed $2.40 favourite, Clarenden Hustler arrived to score by a neck from Jakarras Ace, with Mondo Sports ($8.70), two metres away third.
Goble was delighted with the result.
“Wayne and I spoke about trying to lead all the way and we both said it might not be the best option,” Goble said.
“With Jakarras Ace and Mondo Sport drawn outside him on the front row we thought they would both go forward so decided to take the sit and trail them.
“With reasonable tempo, our horse settled really well, then was good enough to come along the sprint lane.
“I think he will continue to get better.
“His mother Repose was much the same, she continued to improve with age.”
Clarenden Hustler has built a good record with nine wins and seven placings from just 21 starts earning in excess of $31,000.
Repose, a winner of 19 races and more than $50,000, has proved a good broodmare, producing four foals, all winners, for Goble’s Clarenden Standardbreds, but unfortunately, she received injuries in the horrific Wasleys bushfire in late 2016.
She survived the fire but inhaling so much smoke when the fire ripped through eventually saw her pass away last year.
