Well-bred pacer Smokescreen ($2.90 fav) claimed Sunday afternoon’s Ladbrokes Tasmanian Country Championship (2150m) at the final Tasmanian harness race meeting of the season at Carrick Park.
Settling back in the field in a fast lead time, driver Jordan Chibnall had the pacer positioned one-out and two-back before ending up in the one-one at the 1200m when there was a change of leader.
Chibnall made her move out three-wide at the 400m on the Troy Hillier-trained pacer who finished off best to run down Just Jaydo ($3.30) by 1m with Miss Dutton ($3) a further 2.1m away third in a mile rate of 2:00.2s.
“It was a lovely drive by Jordy, and the run she gave him he had to win,” said trainer Troy Hillier post-race.
The former Victorian pacer has now won two of five Tasmanian starts.
“Rohan (Hillier) had him to start with when he came down (to Tasmania), but he couldn’t get him going, and he had too many in work, so he asked if I could take him for a while, and I just haven’t given him back to him.
“He is doing the job, and that’s all I can ask of him,” said Troy.
The pacer is by Bettors Delight and is out of Group 1 winner Heavens Trend, who has also produced Group 1 winner Iveseenheavenslight.
Smokescreen was passed in at the 2022 APG Melbourne Yearling Sales and was sold privately as a two-year-old.
The win was the second leg of a driving double for Chibnall, who won earlier in the day on the Sam Freeman-trained Gemaedde ($8). After being given a lovely run behind the leader, the three-year-old filly was able to finish off best for a half-head win.
Chibnall’s double saw her finish second in the Female Drivers Premiership, one win clear of Olivia Weidenbach.
Under the current Tasracing policy, if the Australian Female Drivers Championship is held in 2025, Chibnall will represent the state with Tarn Ford.
