Two-year-old pacer Laid Back kept his unbeaten record after two starts intact with a last-to-first victory in the Bevan Lee’s Butchery Pace in Launceston on Sunday night.
The gelded son of Alta Christiano settled one-out and three-back in the 1680m event before progressing into the race three-wide from the 650m.
Driver John Walters moved the $7 chance to the lead turning into the home straight to prove too strong late for Didyalousaroosta ($1.26 fav) by four metres, with Indi Air Tonight ($8.50) a head away in third position in a mile rating of 2m 2.5s.
The win was the 600th in the sulky for Walters since computer records began in the late ’80s.
Trainer Clayton Miller said that he and Walters had changed some of the pacer’s gear since his debut win in Hobart on 1 September.
“His work the week prior was much better than before his first start.
“John has been a big help, going out to Carrick and working him for me once a week.
“He had recommended a few gear changes, and he was able to get around the last corner a lot better (compared to his first start) with those.
“We didn’t know if he would beat the favourite but knew he had improved from his Hobart win,” said Miller after the race.
Victorian-based owner-breeders Bob and Angelique Graham race the gelding with their son Matthew, who raced Syzate with Miller with success, and a phone call between Miller and Bob led to Laid Back being transferred to Tasmania.
“Bob trialled Laid Back at Shepparton last month, and he didn’t go that well, but he knew he had some potential.
“I was talking to Bob, and I suggested that he send him over so I could work him with another horse as he only works his horses by himself, and within 24 hours of the phone call, he arrived,” explained Millier.
“The first time I worked him, he was only just, but he has kept improving since,” Miller said.
As for the future plans, Miller is restricted as the pacer isn’t Tasbred.
“There aren’t any races where I can race him against his own age, and I’m not too keen about racing the older horses with him just yet, so I’m going to send him to the paddock,” he said.
