After being involved in a nasty race fall in Launceston in July 2020, reinsman Adrian Duggan is on a path to return to race driving.
The Brighton-based trainer-driver was nearing his 500th driving win before the accident and is happy to be nearing a race track return.
Duggan has to complete five satisfactory trial drives to compete in races and will finish his last two trial drives in two trials that will be held before Friday’s nights Claremont Cricket Club race night in Hobart.
The $10,500 Talbot Hotel Pace is the richest race on the card for the two-year-olds with no more than one lifetime win, where Duggan will have a two-prong attack.
Iden Beejay and Imhooked contested a race that many of their rivals did in Launceston on 18 September.
“I was happy with both of them in Launceston,” said Duggan.
His son Jacob, who was a massive help to Adrian’s dual-code stables while sidelined, will take the reins on Imhooked, who has had two starts since being purchased by his current connections.
“Imhooked is a nice little horse without being a star.
“He needs to be driven for speed more than anything as he is only a little fella and isn’t very strong, but I think he will bowl his maiden over in time,” Adrian said.
The gelded son of Lennytheshark will start from inside of the second row.
Iden Beejay will be having his second start, with Nathan Ford booked for the drive.
“I’m sure he has (taken natural improvement), he had a trip away to Launceston, and I’m sure he has come on from that.
“He has drawn tricky in five, and we will look to drive him similar as he was in Launceston, and hopefully he can finish off,” said the trainer.
The race is a wide-open affair with many nice types including Iden Lady Lincoln, who was a Launceston winner two starts ago. Gigi I Got This who had trialled up nicely before her debut second and Art Huntsman, who was well in the market last start before finding trouble in the race.
