Harness racing driver Mark Yole moved to second on the 2025 Tasmanian Drivers title after a winning double in Launceston on Friday night.
His first winner coincided with his 850th career victory when he partnered the Steve Lukac-trained Shoobees Spirit ($2.25 fav) to victory in a national rating 45 to 49 event over 2200m.
From barrier two, Yole kept the five-year-old gelding out of the early speed battle to settle one-out and two-back before racing three-wide with cover from the 600m.
Yole let the pacer down out four-wide at the 400m and raced away in the home straight to score by the biggest margin of the night of 16.3m to defeat Rocks Roy ($51) and Midnight Dancer ($13) in a mile rate of 1:59.1s.
It was the first win in 11 starts this season for Shoobees Spirit, who had been placed on three occasions this year.
Yole rounded out his double when Puntarno Stride ($1.80 fav) led all the way to win his first race of the season in the final race of the night, completing a double for trainer Wayne Yole on the program, who also won with the Hannah Van Dongen driven Major Lester ($4.40) in the opening race on the program.
Another driver to sneak up the premiership table was Brodie Davis, who is now fifth on the driver’s title and second on the junior driver’s premiership after a winning double.
Ashante Queen ($5.50) was caught three-wide the trip, but the Tammy Langley-trained pacer was still too tough for her rivals when claiming a 50 to 53 national rating event in a mile rate of 1:57.6s.
The win was also the first leg of a double for the Langley stable, winning with Yuruga Lass ($4.60) later on the program.
Brodie teamed up with his father, Steven, for his second win, scoring aboard former Kiwi mare Our Sweet Trixie ($4.40), who led all the way to record a short-half head victory in a no more than one-lifetime win event.
Three-year-old Poster Boy ($5.50) colt broke his maiden status for trainer-driver Todd Rattray, while Geoff Smith and Charlie Castles continued their recent good form, combining to win with Chris Be Quick ($9).
