Promising pacer Montana Storm returns to the track in Hobart on Sunday night, where the Rohan Hillier-trained and driven pacer has a tricky draw to overcome in the Cascade Draught Pace over 1609 metres.
Montana Storm hasn’t been seen since mid-January, although there were some issues with the gelded son of Bettors Delight last preparation.
“We had trouble keeping the weight on him last time and that’s why he only had about half a dozen runs.
“He had a good break, and this time in, he has built up pretty well, so I’m pretty happy with him,” said Hillier.
Montana Storm warmed up for his first-up assignment with a second placing to Tactical Response in a Carrick Park trial on 11 June.
“He was well underdone for that trial, so I didn’t knock him about.
“He has come on from that, his work has been really good but it’s not a good draw on Sunday, but you have got to start somewhere.
“At least he won’t get butchered from that draw, he will get an easy run and if the breaks go his way, he probably should be too good for them,” explained the trainer-driver.
The gelding has won five of his 14-starts, and Hillier predicts a bright future for the pacer.
“I like the horse, I reckon he will win a nice race one day with the right run. We will just potter along and keep him to his classes and I’m sure he will match the free-for-all horses,” Hillier said.
Hillier will team up with another promising pacer in the Paul Ashwood prepared three-year-old, Ideal Pace, who lines up in the fourth race.
The Heston Blue Chip colt looks well placed off the front row, and Hillier explained there were excuses for his last-start second.
“He hit a marker peg with his back leg and jumped out of his gear. He went from travelling to nothing.
“I think he will find the top and will be winning,” Hillier said confidently.
Meanwhile, Ryley Major and Lip Reader remain in the spelling paddock.
“I will probably give them another two or three weeks out before I go and get them. There is no rush, they will just come back for the bigger races later in the season.
“This will be Ryley’s last preparation if he could notch up one of those big races, it will be nice,” Hillier said.
