The Juanita McKenzie-trained Imperial Laz took his record to two wins from five starts in Tasmania since arriving from New Zealand when claiming the Morey’s Tours Pace (2090m) in Hobart on Sunday night.
From the pole draw, the $3.40 chance was able to drive through and lead and dictate affairs in the lead and was always holding his rivals over the concluding stages to score by 4.2m over Puntarno Stride ($9) and Diamondsnblue ($2.40 fav) in a mile rate of 2:01.5s.
“He is a nice little horse, but he is still a bit green.
“He had been very unlucky in his past two starts, and I thought he would be hard to beat with a bit of luck,” said driver Jack Watson about the win.
“I wasn’t sure what pressure I was going to get early, but I was able to dictate and get an easy half, and I let him run down the back.
“I think he is better coming off a helmet, as he is a bit green. While he is still learning, he can get a bit lost in front when there are no horses around him, but in time and with a few more starts, I’m confident that he will figure all that out,” the driver said.
Watson said that his mum had indicated the Latrobe Cup in Launceston this Sunday was the pacer’s likely next target.
The win completed a double for New South Wales owner Mick Boots, who had success earlier in the night with the Wayne Yole-trained Watermelon Sugar ($4.40).
That win was the first leg of a double for the Yole Stable, with We Salute You ($11) winning later in the night.
Watermelon Sugar was driven by Dylan Ford, who also had a double on the card partnering Inside Three Bars ($4 fav), giving his trainer Tammy Langley her 250th training win.
Ford shared driving honours on the program with Jacob Duggan who drove Our Miki Diva ($6) to victory for his father Adrian, before scoring aboard Rock The Tableau ($3.70) who Jacob also trains.
