The Conor Crook-trained Magnetic Terror ($4.80) flew around the Carrick Park Paceway on Sunday afternoon to claim the Halwes Free For All (1670m) and did so in track record time.
Driver Jordan Chibnall made the most of the pole draw to lead in a 27.2s opening quarter before tapping the breaks to 29.8s.
The seven-year-old gelded son of Terror To Love was inclined to race keenly in a 28.3s back straight quarter before racing away from his rivals in a 28.0s final split to score by 10.5m over Hot Deal ($8) and Jimmy The Irishman ($8.50).
The Carrick Park Pacing Club offered a $1,000 bonus to the winning trainer if the track record was broken, with the previous record of 1:56.3s easily broken, although it has been rare to have the fast class pacers race at Carrick Park, let alone over the mile in the past few decades.
The mile rate was originally given as 1:53.99s, which would have been a state record, but it was later adjusted to 1:54.1s, which equalled the state record. The record is jointly held by Magician, who ran the time in Launceston in July last year, and Sunny Sanz, who was the first horse to set the record when winning in Hobart back in May of 2022.
Trainer Conor Crook was delighted with the win. The pacer was the first horse he got to race from high-profile owner Micheal Boots, with whom Crook has raced several other horses since with success in the state.
“That is his go. Back to the mile and back to conditions where he was drawn to lead.
“His standing start runs have been okay, but not super, as his standing start manners are ordinary,” said Crook.
“It is a bit tricky down here on what big races he could win. He has the ability, but his stand manners and staying ability hold him back. We will just keep him ticking along and then target the mile races when they come along, which will be his go.
We are permanently here now, we are at Rohan Hillier’s. Jordan and I only want to do seven or eight,” said Crook.
Training honours on the 10-race card went to Adrian Duggan with a winning treble.
His son Jacob drove his first two winners, Aurora Reason ($6.50) and Another Nien ($4.40), with Tarn Ford driving the last of Adrian’s treble aboard Hurricane Rock ($5.50).
