Tasmanian record holder Call Me Hector on Sunday night added the Launceston track record to his resume when he led all the way to score in the Impress Print Free For All.
Call Me Hector stopped the clock in 1m 59.37s which represented a mile rate of 1m 54.34s for the 1680-metre trip to claim the record, the gelded son of Art Major also holds the Hobart record of 1m 54.3s.
From barrier four trainer-driver Matthew Cooper took the $4.40 elect straight to the lead and after a lead time of 5.22s before quarters of 29.56s, 29.22s, 28.02s, 27.35s.
“It is a huge thrill to claim another track record,” said Cooper post-race.
“I thought if I could ease off for just one quarter that I would just let him go, and when I pulled the plugs at the 400 I knew nothing would beat him,” added the Oatlands based trainer-driver.
Punters sent out Ignatius as the $1.45 favourite, but the pacer who was the sole runner on the second row settled three-back along the marker pegs before working into the clear around the home corner to finish 8.6 metres away fourth.
“I read an article on the Tasracing website that Todd (Rattray, trainer-driver of Ignatius) thought he was a bit fat and needed the run, so I thought if I was going to beat Ignatius then tonight was the night,” explained Cooper.
Cooper also made some gear changes by removing the lugging pole and block blinds.
“When he beat Ryley Major (last start) he wanted to hang up the track, so I decided to leave the pole off him at home and he was alright and I took him to the trials and he went absolutely super, so I thought maybe this is the go,” said Cooper.
“There is no more miles for him this year, I don’t understand their programming.
“Anyway, we will go to the Show Cup in two weeks,” added the trainer-driver
The Show Cup is a standing start event and Call Me Hector’s standing start manners have let him down significantly in the past.
It was a slick time to start the card with Bridwood Bella keeping her unbeaten record intact after two starts.
The Rohan Hadley-trained pacer claimed the state record for a two-year-old filly of 1m 57.0s when winning on debut and was just outside of that time last night when running 1m 57.7s where she raced outside the leader from her second-row draw to score by 18 metres.
The filly was driven by Conor Crook who drove a treble on the card with Lake Eyre and Pockets Of Courage.
One of the biggest winning margins in the state for some time was recorded in the final race of the night when Devil Of Tyne scored by 42.9 metres in a rating 51 to 55 event.
