Keayang Fitzy is likely to head to the upcoming Group 1 Tasmania Cup after his win in a conditioned 75 to 105 rating event in Hobart on Sunday night.
The Wayne Yole-trained pacer was able to spear straight to the early lead in the five-horse field, with race favourite Mickey Oh forced to race outside the leader.
Driver Nathan Ford was able to record one of the slowest lead times of the night in 35.7s before putting the foot down in quarters of 29.9s, 29.3s, 27.6s and 29.6s,
Keayang Fitzy ($5.50) was headed by Mickey Oh ($1.18 fav) from the 600m and even drew a half-neck clear in the home straight before Keayang Fitzy came again to record a short-half head win, with Rubins Plight ($21) six-metres away third.
“He has lost a bit of his turn of foot after some of those long-distance races he has been competing in. So I decided to make it a staying contest to try and beat Mickey Oh, which just paid off,” said winning driver Nathan Ford post-race.
“A couple of his races against Magnetic Terror, he was coming back to him on the line, but I was getting beat for speed.
“I’m pretty sure Wayne (Yole) is taking him to the Tassie Cup. I know there are a few horses from the mainland coming, but they have to come to our territory, and they have to step,” Ford added.
The driver ended the night with a driving double after partnering with five-year-old Village Jolt gelding Photo First to his maiden win at start five for trainer Greg Scott in the Fehlbergs Produce Sprint Lane Pace (2090m).
Photo First found the lead before racing away from his rivals to record a 27.4m win at a mile rate of 2:00.4s.
“He is very green but trialled well in Hobart last month.
“I have been helping Greg with his trackwork, and in the last six weeks, he has started to switch on, and he goes pretty well. I don’t think he will be any star, but he should have plenty of fun with him.”
The Hobart program also saw the first two-year-old race in the state this season, which was won by the Craig Hayes-trained, Gareth Rattray-driven Port Run Machine ($1.12 fav).
