Talk Is Cheap (Todd Rattray) was one of two winners for trainer Michael Laugher in Hobart on 10 April. Photo by Chelsea Mathews
Trainer Michael Laugher made the most of his trip to Hobart from his Westbury base on Friday, preparing a winning double on the seven-race card.
Four-year-old mare Just Lika Dream ($3.50) proved too quick for her rivals to claim the Downbytheseaside @ Woodlands Stud Pace (1609m).
Driver Gareth Rattray worked forward on the daughter of Lennytheshark in the early stages to find the position outside the leader, before racing away from her rivals at the top of the home straight, powering to the line to score by 14.9m in a time of 1:59.8s.
“She has done a good job sitting in the death.
“She went good the start before (when second) in 1:56.9s, and they went a bit slower in the conditions last night, which probably helped her,” said Laugher.
“Jack (Laugher) and Ellen (Tormey) found her, and when Jack came down last year, he brought her down with him. She had a few issues, and we gave her some time off, and she has come back a lot better now. You would think she could win a few more.
Laugher’s double was completed when Talk Is Cheap ($6.50) scored a 1.9m win in the Woodlands Stud Your Genetic Edge Pace (1609m).
The six-year-old daughter of Guaranteed worked forward under her own steam from a wide front-row draw in the early stages before finding the spot outside the leader near the 1200m.
She kept holding off the challengers late to record her sixth career win.
“She was good last week, sitting in the death and running second. But she has settled a bit more lately, and she is racing a bit better,” said the trainer who only has four runners in work at his Tasmanian stable.
Talk Is Cheap was driven by Todd Rattray, who drove a double on the program, winning aboard the three-year-old Bettors Delight gelding Rainbow Ranger ($4.20), whom he also trains.
The biggest winning margin of the night came the way of the Rodney Ashwood-trained and driven Stable Talk ($2.20 fav), who claimed the Tasmanian Horse Transport 2YO Maiden (1609m).
The Poster Boy colt led all the way to record a 19.9m win in 2:00.0s.
He is the second horse to race from the Sportswriter mare Spoilt Sport.
