Lather Up two-year-old Barber Shop made a winning debut when scoring in the Prydes Easifeed Pace (1609m) in Hobart on Friday night.
The Heath Woods-trained and driven pacer was sent out as the $2.15 favourite after two trial victories leading up to the race.
From barrier three Woods was able to find the lead on the pacer after the first 250m, where they were able to control the race before sprinting away from their rivals in the home straight to score by 4.8m over Heza Ripper ($2.50), with High Believer a further 7.3m away third in 1:58.8s.
“I thought he was a good show on his trials, but he ended up going better than I expected,” said Woods post-race.
“He has improved each trial, and he is pretty easygoing and does everything right, and he is a little bit lazy, so a couple of trials have helped sharpen him up.”
The gelding is out of the Perfect Art mare Paris Art, who has also produced Custom Harley, who was last seasons Three Year Old Colt and Gelding of the Year in Tasmania.
“They are both pretty quiet, that’s about their only similarity.
“He is probably a bit sharper than Custom Harley, and he is a lot better gaited as a young horse, Custom Harley was a bit wayward early. Custom Harley is more of a strong staying sort of type, while this bloke has got a bit more dash about him.
Woods indicated that Barber Shop may line up next Friday afternoon in Hobart.
“We will see how he pulls up. He could possibly line up next week in an up-to-one-win two-year-old, but we will just take each week as it comes with him,” said the trainer-driver.
Oatlands-based trainer Steve Lukac prepared a double on the program.
Heres Henry ($8.50), driven by Jack Watson, led all the way to record the pacer’s first win in just over a year before the Todd Rattray-driven Jay Miller ($12) recorded her first win since arriving in the state.
Leading trainer Tammy Langley also prepared a double on the card, with former Victorian pacer Bringusjoy ($1.75 fav) and Will He Pike ($4.20).
Will He Pike was driven by Bronte Miller, who returned to race driving last December after being sidelined from injuries sustained in a motor vehicle accident in January 2023. The win was her first in the sulky since her comeback.
