Four-year-old Sportswriter gelding Iden Oliver ($21) recorded his second win in six starts since joining the Christian Salter stable when scoring in a 1-3 lifetime win event over 1609m in Hobart on Friday night.
In the early stages, driver Mark Yole initially settled the pacer behind the leader and race favourite Imperial Laz. That pacer was subsequently challenged near the 900m and ended up behind the leader, with Yole quickly obtaining the one-out one-back position.
Iden Oliver was let down three-wide from the 400m, and dashed away in the home straight to score by a neck over Imperial Laz ($2.15 fav), who hit the line well once getting clear racing room, with Can Do Magic ($11), a further 6.2m away third in a time of 1:57.8s.
“He has done a good job. He has a few issues, and we are slowly getting over them. He does hang, and if we can iron that out, he has a bit of ability,” said trainer Christian Salter.
“When he won for me first-up, he had a soft trip, and admittedly he did again on Friday.
“We will just try and place him going forward, and Elliott (Booth, owner-breeder) is just happy to see him race, and if they keep earning, he is happy.
“Iden Black Prince is his half-brother, and some of the breed seem to get better when they get older,” the trainer explained.
The win was the first leg of an early double for Mark Yole, who drove Beat Sweet ($1.26 fav) to victory earlier in the night.
Leading trainer Tammy Langley prepared a double on the card with Goodtime Oscar ($2.30 fav) and Aishabeach ($3.70). Both horses were first up in her care, and Dylan Ford drove both.
Wayne Yole was the only other trainer to record a double on the card with Justify ($8.00) and Coolandcollect ($19).
