Last year’s 2YO Filly Sweepstakes winner, Zoe Ella, started her three-year-old campaign on a high note with a win in Hobart on Wednesday afternoon.
Zoe Ella received strong support from punters, moving from $4.60 to $2.70, in the no more than one lifetime win event (1609m), and proved too good for her rivals after sitting outside the leader, Sheeza Soho ($10), for most of the race. That pair finished as the exacta in a mile rate of 1:57.5.
With regular driver Rohan Hillier not making the trip south for the midweek meeting, his brother Troy was tasked with steering the daughter of Stay Hungry and Miss Dreamin home for trainer Paul Ashwood.
“She has been out for nearly six months since her Sweepstakes win (in August). She trialled really well a fortnight ago down here, and Troy was happy to pick up the drive after that,” Paul Ashwood said.
Zoe Ella has now had just six starts for two wins, after starting her racing career in Victoria.
“Her run was good, and I think she’s going to turn out to be a nice, honest horse. We don’t have any plans at the moment; we’ll just pick our races out. She’s probably still got a Vicbred in her, so I’ll talk to the owners about whether they want to head back for that.”
Early in Wednesday’s program, the win for trainer/driver Todd Rattray with Cuzzy Bro ($2.10) in the Ladbrokes Quick Multi NR 64 to 80 (2090m) marked his 900th driving victory, and he quickly secured a double when Spooky Girl ($7) continued the good recent run for hobby trainer Danny Malone.
Punters were mostly on top for the eight-race card, with Ohana By the Sea ($1.95), Peanut Sutter ($2.10 to $1.18) and Into the Harkness ($1.35) all winning as pronounced favourites. Harry’s Deal ($31) was the blowout, and Money’s No Issue ($7.50) sent each-way punters home as a winner.
The second Tasmanian harness meeting for the week is another afternoon card, with nine races in Launceston on Sunday.
