The Shallows ($5.50) is through to his fifth Tasmania Cup final, after scoring in the second heat in Hobart on Friday night.
The Heath Woods-trained pacer won the race in 2021 and has contested the series on six occasions, only missing out on a final spot in 2023.
On Friday, driver Brodie Davis settled the pacer behind the leader before being shuffled to three-back the pegs in the early stages.
After a sedate lead time of 73.5s, the speed was increased from the mile, with all quarters of the final mile run in under 30s.
Davis was able to get The Shallows to the sprint lane, with the pacer dashing home best to score by 12.5m over Glenledi Elvis ($6) and Maebee ($3.30), in a 56.6s last half mile.
The mile rate of 1:57.9s was 0.3s quicker than that recorded by series favourite Triedtotellya in the opening heat on 13 February.
“He has been racing well, he has been drawing out the back and has been running home in quick time and running similar time to the leaders, but you can’t make up that ground when you are out wide,” said Davis.
“Around the corner, when Maebee worked one-off, he grabbed the bit and took off in there, and he was good late.
“If he can draw somewhere in the final where he can lob in the first five or six he will be competitive. I don’t think anything can beat Triedtotellya but if I can draw to sit on his back I would like to say I could finish hard on his back or get him down to half a length.”
Davis was kept busy competing in three trials at Spreyton Park in Devonport on Saturday afternoon.
The Devonport Harness Racing Club has shown significant interest in hosting a meeting on the thoroughbred track in the near future, with the Tapeta surface hosting race meetings from 25 July 2012 until 13 February 2015.
“It all went well, and everyone was happy with the track,” said Brodie.
