Shades Of Silk ($31), the $44,000 Tasmanian Harness Racing Yearling Sales topper in 2023, opened his winning account in Launceston on Sunday night, claiming a Three Year Old and Older Maiden event over 1680m, as he prepares for the heats of the Group 3 Globe Derby in Launceston on 16 November.
In what was a good payday for those involved with the gelded son of Lather Up, who is from the Rocknroll Hanover mare Huiffier, with winning owners Donny Hassell and Scott Jackman collecting their share of the $9,100 first prize money, with the gelding also securing his $10,000 first-win Tasbred bonus.
Trainer Paul Williams drove a confident race in the early stages to find the lead on Shades Of Silk, and proved too strong over the concluding stages by 7.7m, from Our Willow ($16) with Sues Passion ($1.70 fav) a further 1.7m away third in a mile rate of 1:58.1s.
While the pacer started as a $31 chance, he was specked late in betting, being a $51 hope 13 minutes before the race.
While it may have been a shock to punters, it certainly wasn’t for his trainer-driver.
“He went like he can go,” said Williams.
“He has just done a few things wrong in his races and has been hitting his knee and everything else. We put the block blinkers on him tonight, and he concentrated and went good.
“I didn’t think he would lead that easily. I just let him come out under his own steam and didn’t push him out, and I think he would have gone quicker down the straight if he had something to run with.
“He will come back for the Globe Derby heats in a fortnight, and the final would be a nice race to pick up now it’s worth $75,000,” the trainer-driver explained.
Rohan Hillier and Liam Older shared driving honours at the meeting with 1 1/2 wins each.
Hillier trained and drove the well-bred Moveslikealady ($3.40) to a last-to-first victory in race three, while Older drove the Michael Laugher-trained Talk Is Cheap ($5.50) to win in 1:57.2s.
Their half-win came in race six, when the judge couldn’t separate the Mark Jones-prepared Repetitive ($3.10 fav) and Modern Jive ($6.50).
Trainer Wayne Yole, who prepared Modern Jive, had success in the race prior when Kenya ($20) delivered the trainer with his 300th career winner.
