Multiple premiership-winning driver Barrie Rattray wound back the clock in Hobart on Friday night when scoring aboard Millies Creation ($2.20 fav) in the McGinniss Mechanical Pace (2090m).
Barrie won 11 state-driving premierships between the 1989/90 season through to the 2000/01 term. He only drives sparingly these days.
The driver took the four-year-old daughter of Art Major straight to the lead, where they had the race run on their terms and proved too tough late.
The Todd Rattray- trained pacer led home a stable quinella, defeating Scitolina Leis ($15), who was driven by Todd, by 4.2m. Yareckon Im Sweet ($4.40) was a further half-head away third, in a mile rate of 2:01.3s.
It was Millies Creation’s first win of the season and her fifth victory in a 16-start career. James Rattray trained the mare in New South Wales before being sent down to Todd’s stable late last year, where she was placed in the Tasmanian Oaks.
For Barrie, it was his first driving win since scoring aboard Rockandahardplace at the Devonport Showgrounds in November 2021.
Dylan Ford is closing in on Rohan Hillier for the state drivers’ title in the early stages of the season.
Ford took his season total to 25 wins after a driving double aboard Velocity Stride ($4.40) and Rock On Playboy ($4.60), who are both trained by Wayne Yole, who prepared a treble with Ricky Duggan driving Smooth Deal ($4) to victory in the opening race.
Premiership leading trainer Ben Yole prepared a double on the card with Cardinal Sin ($2.10 fav) and Ranieri ($5).
The state’s leading female trainer, Tammy Langley, also tasted success on the card, with Lorimertyrrell ($4.40) winning her second race of the season.
