Mickey Oh will be chasing back-to-back wins in Sunday afternoon’s Ladbrokes Hobart Pacing Cup (2579m) in Hobart.
The Matthew Howlett-trained and driven pacer was second past the post in last year’s cup before being promoted to first in the stewards’ room.
The pacer had a three-run campaign in Victoria in the early spring and has had one run back from a spell last week where Howlett is expecting further improvement from the run.
“I was confident he would run a forward race first up, and I think most would agree his run was quite good. He should be further improved this week,” Howlett said.
Mickey Oh has drawn barrier one in the mobile start event, and the trainer-driver is happy with the draw.
“I won’t be complaining about the barrier, he looks to get his chance.
“I’m very confident he’ll be holding those outside him. He has great gate speed when asked. There will probably be a few working forward the first 600, but that won’t worry him. The distance will suit him and running even quarters.
“It’s a very even field this year, with some handy mainland form, but I wouldn’t swap him for any other horse,” the trainer-driver said.
Howlett said Mickey Oh will race in the state over the next few months and may end up heading interstate again.
“He will run in the features (in Tasmania) through to April, as he did last year, then we will see what the options are after that, but Dad (Chris) does like to take ‘working holidays’ on the mainland with him.”
If successful, Mickey Oh will be only the second horse to win two Hobart Pacing Cups since it was reintroduced to the harness racing calendar in 1994. The only horse to achieve that feat is Star Chamber, who won the race in 2015 and 2021.
Hobart Cup market at the time of writing: 2.70 fav Mickey Oh, $3.30 Hot Deal, $6.00 Sebs Choice, $8.50 Glenledi Elvis, $13 The Shallows, $14 The Croupier and $17+ others.
The afternoon meeting will be shown on Sky Racing 1 and hosted on Tasracing Live with Adrian Collins from 12:57.
