Mitch Ford took driving honours at Friday’s six-race card in Hobart, landing a winning treble.
The driver got on the board early when winning the opening race on the card, the Fehlbergs Produce Sprint Lane Pace (1609m) aboard Freeasabyrd ($1.90 fav) for visiting Victorian trainer Emma Stewart.
The three-year-old daughter of Ultimate Machete raced outside the leader and was too good late for former Victorian pacer Shes A Tiny Dancer ($2.30) by 3.8m, with Svitolina Leis ($7.50) a further 5.3m away third.
“I don’t mind her. I think she has a bit of ability. To run 1:57.1(s) first up sitting parked isn’t an easy task, but she did it pretty comfortably,” said Ford after the race.
“She put the rest of the field away at the top of the straight. Obviously, Shes a tiny Dancer who ran good sectionals last week and again this week, was the only one who could get near me.
Ford drove a double for the Stewart stable last week and hopes the association can continue.
“It’s good to have a connection with them down here, that’s for sure,” the driver said.
Ford combined with his aunty, Tammy Langley, trainer of Noblezzz Advice ($4.20 fav), who broke his maiden in race four.
From a second-row draw, Ford settled the Sportswriter gelding in the one-one.
“Everything panned out well. They ran a quick lead time. He didn’t really want to win, but I was able to get him over the line.
“He had been running some nice races and deserved that win,” said the driver.
Ford rounded out his treble on the Wayne Yole-trained Yareckon Im Sweet ($8.50) in the Racing Connect Pace (2090M)
“It was a bit of a drop in class, but he loves leading. Once I found the lead and bowled along at an even tempo, I thought I was a top-three chance.
“He gave a bit of a kick (in the straight), which was good, and he held on,” said the driver.
The win rounded out a successful night for the Yole stable, which had success earlier in the night won with Fury Dan ($2.60 fav).
Injury-plagued pacer Triedtotellya made a triumphant return to the race track in the More Confidence Consulting Pace for trainer-driver Matthew Howlett.
Sent out the shortest favourite of the night at $1.26, the Well Said gelding obliterated his rivals by 22m, and he ran the mile in the quickest time on the program in 1:55.0s, just 0.9s outside the track record.
The night’s final race was won by Shaun To The Max ($4.60), who was well rated in front by Jack Watson.
