Tarn Ford dominated Sunday night’s harness meeting in Hobart, winning four of the nine races.
In doing so, Ford became the first Tasmanian-born female driver to win four races on a single program. Four interstate-born drivers, Kerryn Manning, Natalee Emery, Erin Hollaway, and Danielle Hill, have recorded four or more wins on Tasmanian tracks in the past.
“It is something I didn’t know until now, but something I’m proud of. It is hard enough to drive one winner, let alone four,” said Ford.
One of her winners came in the night’s feature, the Ladbrokes Sires Produce, where she partnered with the Freddy Taiba-trained Medina ($7.50) to a short-half head win over $1.24 favourite Tenaciously.
“Medina gave me the feel of a horse who will progress well, as he was very green early but knuckled down to the task when I asked him to do so,” said Ford about the pacer who was having his second race start.
Another of her winners was The Chancer, who overcame a 20m handicap to claim the Smithawards Pace (2090m).
“He has been so consistent and deserved to win. The team at home thought that if I could get him to step, he would be hard to beat as he had been racing in harder company.
Her other wins included Rollin Mary ($5.50) and Mr Bondi ($5).
Ford has now driven 19 winners this season and is seventh on the state drivers premiership.
“It’s been an okay start to the season and will hopefully continue to get better with the stable having a lot of new horses with some great support from owners,” said Ford.
Meanwhile, Triedtotellya ($1.05 fav) continued his winning ways when claiming the Morey’s Tours Pace (2090m), but his mainland mission is over for this preparation.
The Rohan Hillier-trained and driven gelding found the lead and bowled along in a lead time of 34.6s before running quarters of 30.5s, 29.8s, 27.9s, and 28.1s.
Triedtotellya had to dig deep late when Watermelon Sugar finished the race strongly in the home straight. At the finish, a head was between the pair, with One Big Shew finishing a further 4.4m away in third, in a mile rate of 1:56.2s.
Hillier confirmed post-race that Triedtotellya won’t head interstate for a trip that potentially included the Brisbane Inter Dominion. Instead, the five-year-old gelded son of Well Said will head to the spelling paddock.
