After a 14.5m win last week, the Bianca Heenan-trained Grizzly Montana will be chasing back-to-back wins when he lines up in the Tasmanian Horse Transport Pace in Hobart on Sunday night.
The gelded son of Lanercost had his first start since being transferred to the Heenan stable in Hobart last week, where he was too good for his rating 50 to 54 opponents, after putting the race beyond doubt from the 600m and settling in a midfield spot courtesy of a confident drive by Nathan Ford.
“I thought the leaders had done a fair bit of work, so I thought I would just creep around there, but when I got up beside them, I thought I would put the acid to them and I did that and he won well in the end,” explained the winning driver.
The seven-year-old had been placed in several starts in Tasmania under the care of trainer Kate MacLeod prior.
“Bianca had trained for Max (Wadley) and Bartola (Malqued) before, and they just rang and asked if we would give him a go.
“His form with Kate MacLeod was pretty good, we have changed a bit of work and a bit of gear, and it has paid dividends,” explained Ford.
Grizzly Montana has drawn barrier two on the second-row in Sunday’s assignment, which is a rating 53 to 57 event over 2090m, where she holds early favouritism over Vonns Angel, who has dropped back in trip after contesting the 2579 Matron Stakes last week where she finished fourth, while Iden Miss Lucy and Debt Till We Part are the remaining runners in a single figure quote.
The Heenan Stable has several chances across the card, including Micton Mouse and Coolhand Easton in race two and Hyde Park in race three.
Sunday’s eight-race card will be televised on Sky Racing 1 and TasracingTV, with the opening race set down for 17:40
