There may only be six races in Hobart on Sunday afternoon, but Brighton-based concession driver Jacob Duggan isn’t too disappointed with how the barrier draws have fallen.
He will compete in all six races, with his drives in the first four races drawing no wider than barrier three.
“Most of my drives have drawn where they should get every hope,” said Duggan, who is closing in on his 150th driving win.
Despite those good draws, he rates Sue Nien, who has drawn barrier six in the TTC Life Members Pace (1609m), as one of his best winning chances of the meeting.
The Rock N Roll Heaven mare won four of her 15 starts last season, and she will be out to claim her first win on her eighth attempt this season.
The mare was defeated 11m when second to Southern Luck over the 1680m trip in Launceston last start.
“She has drawn barrier six (on Sunday), but I thought her last run was really good. She worked forward, and then we had to get back out of it. She was the widest runner and still ended up running second.
“There doesn’t look to be a whole lot of speed inside her, so if we can find the pegs, or the running line, over the mile, I think she will be right there,“ said Jacob about the pacer who is trained by his father, Adrian.
Another of his better hopes from his book of drives is a horse that Jacob also trains, in Iamahunter, who has drawn the pole in the Fehlberg’s Produce Sprint Lane Pace (2090m).
“His standing start manners weren’t the best last start, but prior to that, I have been happy with his recent runs, and hopefully, back to the mobile, he will be back on track.
The gelded son of Huntsville won a heat of the Trainers Incentive series at Carrick Park four starts ago, and was fourth in the final two runs back.
“In the final, the race was run upside down, so I had to drive him upside down, and I thought the effort was still good.
“We have got plenty of options (from barrier one), whether we hold a position or elect to take a sit,” said the trainer-driver.
Sunday’s six-race card commences at 14:19.
