Zihuatanejo will head to next week’s $40,000 Tasmanian Derby in winning form after scoring in the Nellie Robins Pace (2200m) at Launceston’s Ladbrokes Racing Centre, Mowbray, on Friday night.
The three-year-old gelded son of Bettors Delight had been placed outside the mobile draw and stood down for one trial after galloping excessively at his previous start on 19 July.
However, he produced brilliant manners on Friday, with driver David Miles pressing forward through the field in the early stages before making a three-wide move down the back straight on the first occasion and finding the lead near the 1450m.
Once in front, Zihuatanejo ($1.80 fav) travelled well before racing away from his rivals over the final 350m to score by 16.4m from A Dragon For Joe ($6.50) and Omybacknknees Judge ($26) in a mile rate of 1:57.7s.
“He’s a big baby and still learning, and it was really nice for everything to come together.
“He’s super, super talented, but he’s probably at least 12 months away from bringing out his best because he just keeps growing,” said winning trainer Claire Macdonald.
“His first start when he won in Victoria, he did some work and came around and won, but Friday night showed the speed that he’s got too. It was very nice to see, and when I worked him during the week, I thought, ‘That’s the fastest horse I’ve driven” the trainer added.
The pacer had his first two starts for David Miles, including a debut win at Bendigo, before a third in Launceston in June, with the gelding then continuing his Tasmanian preparation in the care of Macdonald.
“When the fields came out, I rang David and said, ‘You’d better book your ticket because I think he’s right to go.’
“I said, ‘If you want to drive him and test him out for other options, this is your chance,’ so that’s what we did,” Macdonald said.
Zihuatanejo will now head to next Sunday’s Tasmanian Derby in Hobart with the option of returning to Victoria for the Vicbred series, which commences with heats later in the month.
Earlier on the Launceston card, Shemeansbusiness ($3.30 fav) won at her first start in the state in the Cliff Robins Memorial (1680m), recording a fast mile rate of 1:56.6s.
The Rohan Hillier-trained and driven pacer has now won four of her 18 starts, with the bulk of her racing being in Victoria and South Australia.
Hillier said the owners sent the filly down to pick up her Tasbred bonus.
