Two-year-old pacer Barber Shop will be chasing the biggest win in his short racing career when he lines up in the Fehlbergs Produce 2YO Colts & Geldings Sweepstakes Final (1609m) in Hobart on Saturday night.
The Heath Woods-trained and driven pacer took his record to two wins from four starts when claiming the second heat of the series on 25 July.
Barber Shop, a gelded son of Lather Up, settled one out and two back before racing three and four-wide over the final 600m to defeat race favourite B T Captivate by a head in 1:57.9s.
“He went well, I was really pleased with him,” said Woods.
“He got to the front fairly early, and he had to dig in to hold B T Captivate off, and he kept coming at him too, so he did a good job to hold off.
The pacer has drawn the pole in the $30,000 final, where he sits on the second line of early betting, behind B T Captivate as the race favourite.
“He begins pretty well. There are a couple of others that begin well, it will be interesting to see what happens. Even if he does get crossed, there will probably be an option to come off if I need to, as a few get away quickly, it often puts a bit of a gap in the field. But he does begin pretty well, and they do have to cross you.
“This will be his last run, and then have a lead-up and get him ready for the Dandy Patch (2YO Tasbred series),” said Woods.
The Broadmarsh-based trainer has two runners in the night’s open class feature, the $20,000 Metropolitan Cup (2579m).
Stepping Stones has drawn barrier four, which Woods will also drive, while The Shallows has drawn the second line with Brodie Davis booked.
Both horses contested the Darrell Rockliff Graduate at their most recent starts.
“She (Stepping Stones) did a good job as she does. We will probably have to go forward and see where she ends up.
“The Shallows got beat by the sectionals (last start), and hopefully this week he can get a trail into it,” said the trainer.
Saturday night’s Hobart card features the $80,000 Beautide.
Several wagering service providers have fixed odds markets up on the Beautide, both the Sweepstakes Finals, and the Metropolitan Cup.
