Five-year-old Rock N Roll Heaven gelding Crackerjacks Judge broke through for his first win in 15-months when the pacer led all the way to score in the Rexel North Hobart Pace in Hobart last night.
Reinsman Paul Hill took the $3.60 chance straight to the early lead, and after a slow first circuit, Hill put the foot down over the final 1200 metres, running the last three quarters in 30.6s, 29.8s and 29.9s, which is a quick enough for a rating 30 to 49 event
The gelding was stepping out for his third start since being purchased by his new trainer Bianca Heenan.
“He has got better every start for me, and he seems to be on the up, my training program seems to be agreeing with him with a lot of strong work in the heavy cart and not much fast work,” said Heenan after the race and she was full of praise for Hill’s drive.
“I wanted him driven like that as I think he’s a bit one-paced and is not blessed with a lot of speed,” explained the trainer.
Crackerjacks Judge started his career with north-west coast trainer Brett Jaffray before being trained by Melissa Maine, Marc Butler and Geoff Smith.
He then had one start for Zeke Slater in early March before being snapped up by Heenan.
“I have to thank Zeke (Slater) for selling him to me, Zeke told me that he didn’t really suit him and he that he might suit my property and work,” Hennan said, and she expects the pacer who is now rated at 49 to be competitive in coming weeks.
“With his gate speed I think he can win a couple more pretty easy, I will try to pick out some more mile races for him as I think it suits him better,” the trainer explained.
Heenan has now trained 13 winners for the season from 77 starters and sits one win clear over Juanita Mckenzie on the states female trainers premiership.
The win of Crackerjacks Judge was the second winner of the week out of the Bettors Delight mare Mystic Power Lombo, who is the dam of Raymonds Judge who won in Launceston last Sunday, ironically both horses won the last race on the respective programs.
Other winners at last nights meeting included the Marc Butler trained One Yankee Ginga who defeated stablemate Armchair Drive in the trotters event.
Capitallee raced up to his excellent recent form to win the Trainers Encouragement Pace defeating the $101 outsider Iden Gorgeous who ran an improved race in front.
Black Ops won race three, after settling behind the leader, driver Mark Yole was able to get the eight-year-old entire out in plenty of time to defeat stablemate My Ultimate Romeo.
Kent Rattray and John Walters continued their lethal combination of late when Hurricane Kingcole filly Evie Kay broke her maiden status at start 10, and in the process collected her $10,000 first win Tasbred bonus.
Conor Crook is another reinsman in form, and he was back in the winners stall with Lord Stark who was a tough effort to score in race five after starting from outside of the front row over the mile trip.
Betterthancheddar gelding Resurgent Storm was able to lead all the way and score in a rating 60 to 80 event.
The Rodger Whitmore trained pacer was rated well in front by Rodney Ashwood with the four-year-old gelding breaking $100,000 in prize money with the victory.
Photo: Crackerjacks Judge and his number one fan Alec Ford who gives the pacer a pat well done after last nights win.
Watch Crackerjacks Judge lead all the way to score in the Rexel North Hobart Pace last night in Hobart:
