Five-year-old American Ideal gelding Barny Bill will be chasing his second win in four Tasmanian starts when he lines up in the sixth of seven races in Launceston on Friday night.
The former Victorian pacer was purchased by his owner-driver, Hannah Van Dongen, with her father, Craig, training the gelding.
The father-daughter duo combined with Mikiyoursofine, who has won two races and placed on another five occasions in recent times.
“Mickey ran well over the summer at Burnie, so I decided to buy another one and saw him for sale online,” explained Hannah.
The gelding has finished no further back than fourth in three starts since arriving in the state.
“He was good first up in Hobart, but he did hang a bit, so we changed a bit of gear, and his second run in Launceston, he was good when winning, and he wasn’t disgraced (when third) last start.
Barny Bill will be the sole second-row runner in Friday’s no more than two lifetime wins event over 1680m, where the owner-driver is expecting another forward showing.
“I think he can run in the top three. Hopefully, I can give him a good run, and if he races up to his recent starts, he should be thereabouts.
Hannah has four other drives on the Launceston card, rating Kiavino Stride in race two as the best chance of her other drives.
This season, Hannah has driven 10 winners, which sees her in 11th spot on the state’s drivers title. She continues to cross racing codes, riding trackwork in the thoroughbred code for trainer Barry Campbell, who trains Dynamic Deal, who Hannah also owns and is a contender in the last race at Sunday’s Devonport meeting.
Friday’s seven-race Launceston card commences at 17:49 and can be seen on Sky Racing 2.
