For A Reason gelding, Stormont Star recorded his second win of the season with a tough victory in a rating 55 to 70 event in Launceston on Friday evening.
From barrier two on the second-row, trainer-driver Conor Crook was able to push through and settle in a one-out one-back position before a mid-race move to race outside the leader for the final 1200 metres of the race.
Crook put the foot to the floor down the back straight before kicking clear late to score in 1m 58.8s over Taurisi and Deadly Assassin, both running good races from back in the field.
The win of Emjays Black Chip in the Rare Earth Stakes was some welcome positive news for the gelding’s trainer Michael Laugher.
Laugher was walking around very tender during the Launceston meeting after an injury sustained while attending to one of his horses at his stables earlier in the week.
Todd Rattray gave Emjays Black Chip a lovely run in a one-out one-back position before pushing into the clear at the top of the home straight to rundown Raining On Ringo by 1.7 metres in a slow mile rate of 2m 1.6s for the 1680-metre trip.
Driving honours at the meeting were shared by Kayleb Williams and Gareth Rattray.
Williams scored on the Steven Davis trained Major Davvin in the Tassie Wash Pace, who, after racing outside the leader, was able to run to the lead around the home bend.
The gelded son of Art Major was clearly headed in the home straight by Karalta Courage, who got a length in front before Major Davvin kicked backed to score by a half head to the cheers of punters who backed the pacer in from $6.00 into $2.60 favourite.
Williams also scored on the Kent Rattray trained Karalta Kruise to his eighth win of the season in a rating 55 or better standing start race.
Gareth Rattray drove the last two winners of the night with Booker Bay and Northview Dave, both prepared by Ben Yole.
Yole left the meeting with a training treble, with his other winner being Weerook Harry, who lifted late to score in the opening race of the night, Courtney of the magic hands of Rohan Hadley.
