The Devonport Cup (to be held in Launceston) later this month is the next main target for talented Art Major four-year-old colt Horatius Speculo ($2.70 fav) following his dominant victory in Friday’s $20,000 Good Sports North Eastern Pacing Cup (2692m) at Scottsdale.
The Tammy Langley-trained pacer began brilliantly at his first standing start try, to lead, and raced away from his rivals over the concluding stages to score by 13.1m from Zara Tindall ($14) and Maebee ($2.80).
“He only had one trial from the tapes, and he was safe away. He has good point-to-point speed, so once he hit his straps, he was always going to knuckle down quickly,” said driver Dylan Ford.
“The only query we had was the 2692m. It was a step for a horse that had never raced over that distance, and he did get a bit keen in the middle stages when Maebee injected a bit of speed into the race, but off the back, he was travelling well enough to say he was going to give me a kick.”
The lead time was recorded in a slow 88.9s, with the final mile run in quarters of 28.7s, 29.6s, 29.4s, and 28.9s.
“He half stumbled turning for home, and to pick himself back up and to race away was a good effort,” the driver explained.
“He will have another run and then head to the Devonport Cup.”
It was a great night for the Langley and Ford combination, winning four races on the seven-race card. Their other winners included Goodtime Oscar ($2.45 fav), Twilight Beach ($4), and Nikita Jo ($20).
Earlier winners included the Kyle Pratten-trained Loyola Trios ($8).
Jadez ($4.80) led all the way to score for trainer-owner Damian Spring, with Todd Rattray in the sulky. While visiting South Australian driver, Corey Johnson, partnered the Wayne Yole-trained Settebello ($10) to victory.
