Newly crowned Tasmanian Horse of the Year Triedtotellya will add some serious X-factor to the $1.25 million Group 1 Nullarbor in Perth next month.
Managing owner Braden Howlett confirmed the six-year-old’s first trip away from Tasmania will be a two-race raid, starting with the Nullarbor on April 17 followed a week later by the $300,000 Group 1 Fremantle Cup.
Triedtotellya won Tasmania’s highest honour last Friday night after a magnificent 2025 where he raced just nine times for eight wins, including the Easter Cup and Golden Apple.
He is widely regarded as Tasmania’s best pacer since the mighty Beautide, who won successive Inter Dominion finals in 2014 and ’15.
Howlett confirmed a deal had been done for Triedtotellya to race in the Nullarbor slot held by Swandoo Racing’s Jim and Willie Giumelli.
“It’s been on the cards for a while and we’re locked in now,” Howlett said. “It’s a long way to go from Tassie, but we think he can be very competitive. With the right draw, they’ll know he’s right there at the finish.”
While the Nullarbor will be a strong race, Triedtotellya won’t have to contend with Australia’s three best pacers – Leap To Fame, Swayzee and Kingman – who are all going to a slot race a week earlier instead.
“That’s part of the attraction, no doubt about it,” Howlett said.
“Races like these two (in Perth) will also give us a great guide where he sits and whether we should take him to the Brisbane Inter Dominion (Albion Park in July).”
Latest markets have former Inter Dominion and Miracle Mile winner Don Hugo favourite for the Nullarbor at $2.70 from star locals Minstrel ($3.40) and Magnificent Storm ($4.50). Triedtotellya is $15.
Trainer-driver Rohan Hillier, who has done a superb job nursing Triedtotellya through some injury issues, will accompany the pacer to Perth.
“Rohan will meet the horse when he arrives in Perth and our family will head over at different stages for the races,” Howlett said.
“It should be a great experience for all of us and horses are always a good excuse for a holiday.
“The flight goes from Melbourne to Perth (Friday, April 10), so we’ll take him across on the boat to Melbourne on the Tuesday before that to give him time to settle there before the flight.”
Triedtotellya hasn’t raced since a huge second to Celebrity Royal in the Group 1 Ladbrokes Tasmania Cup final in Hobart on February 28.
He was scratched from the second heat of the Easter Cup last Sunday.
“He wasn’t 100 per cent right and we didn’t want to risk him with so much coming up,” Howlett said.
“We’ll look to get one more run into him before the trip.”
