Concession driver Brodie Davis capped off a big weekend when driving Tambros Tilly ($3.20) to victory in the opening race in Launceston on Sunday night.
Davis, who celebrated his 18th birthday only 48 hours prior, had the three-year-old daughter of Bling It On positioned three-back the pegs from the pole draw. She was beaten for early gate speed and ended up three-back the pegs.
The driver got the filly into the clear out three wide at the top of the home straight, where she finished off best to score over Donny In Paris ($4.20) by 1.8m, with My Ultimate Romeo ($10) a further 3.9m away third in a mile rate for the 2200m trip recorded in 1:59.3s.
“She did what she had to. She only does what she likes in the run, so we were able to drive her a bit quiet tonight, and she got out at the top of the straight and finished off well.
“She has done well (in her career). As a two-year-old, she didn’t know what to do, and it took her a little while to work out how to race properly,” said Davis.
The filly is trained by Brodie’s father, Steven. The driver confirmed after the race that they will be looking at races such as the Tasmanian Oaks and the Bandbox over the coming months.
Keayang Fitzy ($2.45 fav) gave favourite backers a scare when he galloped out in the Lees Orchard Discretionary (2698m).
Driver Nathan Ford was delighted with the pacer’s effort and acknowledged that the slow lead time played out to be an advantage.
“It was a very good win. What helped me early was the sectionals were slow, and they only got going at the mile.
“He has a bit of bottom to him. Magnetic Terror is no slouch, and he picked him up pretty comfortably in the straight.
“Every time Wayne has stepped him up, he keeps taking on the task, and I think he will keep improving,” said the driver.
It was the first standing start race for the Wayne Yole-trained pacer, with the driver stating that he believed that the horse “half scared himself” at the start.
“I think he would be better starting off 10m and following them out a few times while he gets the hang of it,” Ford explained.
Driver Tarn Ford recorded a cross-code double on Sunday.
She is a part-owner of the John Keys-trained Gee Gees Moonlite ($2.80 fav), who broke through for her maiden win at the Devonport gallops meeting before she teamed up with Victorian trainer Emma Stewart to score aboard Waterfront ($1.18 fav).
The win was a middle leg of a training treble for the Stewart stable, with How Sweet ($1.09 fav) and Free To Play ($1.85 fav) also winning, with Mitch Ford driving both of those pacers to victory.
