Poster Boy gelding Haveyoumetmaynard ($1.35 fav) took 0.4s off the Launceston Two Year Old track record when obliterating his rivals in a Two-Year-Old Maiden event over 1680m on Sunday night.
After being scratchy in his gear in the score-up, driver Gareth Rattray took the Chris Howlett-trained pacer straight to the lead and held a healthy margin on his rivals throughout.
The Tasracing Calculated sectionals had Haveyoumetmaynard 40.6m in front of his opposition at the 400m, with that margin reduced to 23.7m at the finish when breaking Offthetopofmyhead’s Two Year Old record that had stood since July 2016.
“He was a little bit funny early, but that’s why we have got Gareth (Rattray) on him,” said Howlett.
“I told Gareth to just drive him how he feels comfortable, and he did say that he was just touching the wheels, but it didn’t worry him, and that he didn’t look back; he also didn’t pull the plugs.”
Howlett said that connections have turned down a potential slot for the $500,000 Protostar in Queensland next month.
“There was a call after the race about a slot in the Protostar. But I thought he needed a break, and he is in the paddock now.
“He is just not quite the finished product now. So we will give him a few weeks off and just pick out what other races are available for him,” said the trainer.
Howlett also prepared Shes Allaboutluv ($2.40 fav) to victory in the Launceston Discretionary later in the night, with Ethan Arnott in the sulky.
Training honours at the meeting went to Wayne Yole, who prepared Montgomery Burns ($10), Winsum Bella ($3.10 fav) and Soho Tiger Lily ($12).
Mark Yole landed a winning treble with Affamato ($4.80), Winsum Bella ($3.10 fav) and Amelias Jewel ($2.90 fav) while Dylan Ford was the only other driver to record multiple wins with a double, scoring aboard Soho Tiger Lily ($12) and Power Up ($2.40 fav).
